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Prediction of the Ionospheric Response to the 14 December 2020 Total Solar Eclipse Using SUPIM‐INPE
Author(s) -
MartínezLedesma M.,
Bravo M.,
Urra B.,
Souza J.,
Foppiano A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1029/2020ja028625
Subject(s) - ionosonde , solar eclipse , ionosphere , eclipse , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , meteorology , physics , electron density , electron , astronomy , quantum mechanics
We present the first prediction of the ionospheric response to the 14 December 2020 solar eclipse using the SUPIM‐INPE model. Simulations are made for all known ionosonde stations for which solar obscuration is significant. The found response is similar to that previously reported for other eclipses, but it also shows a modification of the equatorial fountain transport that will impact the low latitudes after the event. In addition to the large reduction of electron concentration along the totality path (~4.5 TECu, ~22%), a significant electron and oxygen ion temperature cooling is observed (up to ~400 K) followed by lasting temperature increases. Changes of up to ~1.5 TECu (~5%) are also expected at the conjugate hemisphere. These predictions may serve as a reference for eventual ionospheric measurements of multiple instruments and are leading to a better understanding of the ionospheric response to solar eclipses.