The ionospheric response to the 1st August 2008 total solar eclipse using incoherent scatter radar measurements

Abstract

The ionospheric response to the 1st August 2008 total solar eclipse has been investigated at three incoherent scatter radar stations over Europe and Greenland (e.g. Svalbard, Tromso and Sondrestrom). The observations show obvious decrease in the electron density, temperature, ion velocity and plasma cutoff frequency during the period of solar eclipse particularly between 09:00 and 10:00 UT. The depletion was clearly seen in the E and F1 layers at altitudes below 200 km where in these regions the depletion was synchronous with the eclipse function. In the F2 layer of ionosphere (300–400 km), different response was seen with long period of electron density reduction and reduction in F2 maximum occurred between 10:00 and 15:00 UT. A comparison between the electron and ion temperature response at Tromso station shows a significant decrease in electron temperature only (value of −700 K).