Solar eclipse

About: Solar eclipse is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2737 publications have been published within this topic receiving 22625 citations.

First Empirical Determination of the Fe 10+ and Fe 13+ Freeze-in Distances in the Solar Corona

Abstract: Heavy ions are markers of the physical processes responsible for the density and temperature distribution throughout the fine scale magnetic structures that define the shape of the solar corona. One of their properties, whose empirical determination has remained elusive, is the 'freeze-in' distance (Rf) where they reach fixed ionization states that are adhered to during their expansion with the solar wind. We present the first empirical inference of Rf for Fe10+ and Fe13+ derived from multi-wavelength imaging observations of the corresponding FeXI (Fe10+) 789.2 nm and FeXIV (Fe13+) 530.3 nm emission acquired during the 2015 March 20 total solar eclipse. We find that the two ions freeze-in at different heliocentric distances. In polar coronal holes Rf is around 1.45 Rs for Fe10+ and below 1.25 Rs for Fe13+. Along open field lines in streamer regions Rf ranges from 1.4 to 2 Rs for Fe10+ and from 1.5 to 2.2 Rs for Fe13+. These first empirical Rf values: (1) reflect the differing plasma parameters between coronal holes and streamers and structures within them, including prominences and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs); (2) are well below the currently quoted values derived from empirical model studies; and (3) place doubt on the reliability of plasma diagnostics based on the assumption of ionization equilibrium beyond 1.2 Rs.

Nighttime ionospheric enhancements induced by the occurrence of an evening solar eclipse

Abstract: [1] The solar eclipse on 15 January 2010 traversed Asia and completed its travel on the Shandong Peninsula in China at sunset Two vertical incidence ionosondes at Wuhan and Beijing and the oblique incidence ionosonde network in North China were implemented to record the ionospheric response to the solar eclipse Following the initial electron density decrease caused by the eclipse, the ionosphere was characterized by a strong premidnight enhancement, and a subsequent ionospheric decay, and a ~10 h later postmidnight enhancement Neither geomagnetic disturbance occurred during the eclipse day nor did obvious nighttime peak appear for the 10 day mean of the F2-layer critical frequency (foF2) The electron density profilogram of the Beijing ionosonde indicates that the two enhancements were the result of the plasma flux downward from the top ionosphere, possibly due to the steep decrease of the ionospheric electron density and plasma temperature during the solar eclipse The two-dimensional differential foF2 maps present the regional variations of the nighttime electron density peaks and decay Both the pre- and postmidnight enhancements initially appeared in a belt almost in parallel with the eclipse track and then drifted southward The different magnitudes of greatest eclipse in the umbra and outside tend to account for the different occurrence times of the plasma flux The ionospheric decay following the premidnight enhancement is also considered as a consequence of the eclipse shade

Lidar reveals activity anomaly of malaria vectors during pan-African eclipse

Abstract: Yearly, a quarter billion people are infected and a half a million killed by the mosquito-borne disease malaria. Lack of real-time observational tools for continuously assessing the unperturbed mosquito flight activity in situ limits progress toward improved vector control. We deployed a high-resolution entomological lidar to monitor a half-kilometer static transect adjacent to a Tanzanian village. We evaluated one-third million insect observations during five nights, four days, and one annular solar eclipse. We demonstrate in situ lidar classification of several insect families and their sexes based on their modulation signatures. We were able to compare the fine-scale spatiotemporal activity patterns of malaria vectors during ordinary days and an eclipse to disentangle phototactic activity patterns from the circadian mechanism. We observed an increased insect activity during the eclipse attributable to mosquitoes. These unprecedented findings demonstrate how lidar-based monitoring of distinct mosquito activities could advance our understanding of vector ecology.

Ionospheric and geomagnetic response to the total solar eclipse on 1 August 2008 over Northern Hemisphere

Abstract: [1] The ionospheric and geomagnetic response to the total eclipse of the Sun on 1 August 2008 over Northern Hemisphere has been examined using 14 GPS, three ISR radar, and three magnetometer ground-based stations. Three different approaches were employed to examine the TEC depletion occurrence at the GPS stations: determination of the TEC depletion parameters during the solar eclipse with respect the quiet day TEC variations, comparison of the total TEC (ΣTEC) during the solar eclipse period with respect to quiet day TEC measurements for the same period of time, and determination of the average daily TEC obtained from eight GPS stations and compares the values with the average quiet day TEC at these stations. The GPS observations indicate obvious TEC depression occurrence at all stations with the values was varying between 11% and 40%. The observations show that TEC depression at most GPS stations started on the neck of the first contact of the eclipse followed by deeper negative deviation while the area of optical disk obscured getting larger. Periods of TEC depletion were also observed before the first contact time of solar eclipse and after the fourth contact of solar eclipse due to earlier and later obscuration of the solar corona before and after the eclipse observation time. The incoherent scatter radar observations at Svalbard, Tromso, and Sondrestrom also show clear depletion occurrence in electron density, electron temperature, ion velocity, and plasma cutoff frequency during the solar eclipse passage at these stations. Radar measurements show obvious difference in the ionospheric response between the E and F layers of ionosphere and between ion and electron temperature in the F layer. The geomagnetic field response to the solar eclipse at CBB, RESO, and NUR stations was examined by using two different techniques, first by comparing the daily variations of geomagnetic field during the eclipse period with the variations on the day before and day after the eclipse, and second by determination the Δ magnetic field with respect to the average quiet geomagnetic field. The results show obvious decrease in the total field, X and Z components of geomagnetic field and obvious increase in the Y component at both CBB and RESO stations. The depletion in X, Z, and total field was in the range between 15 and 28 nT while the increase in the Y component was 18–22 nT.