Open AccessLatitudinal dependence of the ionospheric response to solar eclipse of 15 January 2010
Author(s) -
Chen Gang,
Zhao Zhengyu,
Ning Baiqi,
Deng Zhongxin,
Yang Guobin,
Zhou Chen,
Yao Ming,
Li Shipeng,
Li Ning
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2010ja016305
Subject(s) - solar eclipse , ionosphere , ionosonde , eclipse , atmospheric sciences , altitude (triangle) , geology , earth's magnetic field , anomaly (physics) , latitude , electron density , geomagnetic storm , geophysics , geodesy , plasma , physics , astronomy , magnetic field , geometry , mathematics , condensed matter physics , quantum mechanics
The ionospheric responses to the solar eclipse of 15 January 2010 in the equatorial anomaly region have been investigated by three vertical‐incidence and seven oblique‐incidence ionosondes arranged along the meridian from geomagnetic latitudes 18°N to 30°N in eastern China. Though the solar eclipse occurred later in the evening, the eclipse effect on electron density and reflection height of ionospheric F 2 layer was clearly observed. The study of the eclipse lag (the time lag between the occurrence of the eclipse maximum obscuration and the occurrence of the maximum depletion of f o F 2 ) with latitude indicates it increased with F 2 layer altitude. Results suggest also that this eclipse enhanced the prereversal enhancement. An unusual peak occurred after the maximum reduction in f o F 2 and this was observed by all our ionosondes. The following F 2 layer plasma density increase was considered to be caused by the increased westward electric field.