Ionospheric Responses to a Total Solar Eclipse Deduced by the GPS Beacon Observations

The total electron content (TEC) data during the total eclipse of March 9, 1997 were collected, which were observed by means of nine GPS receivers located at the eastern Asia. The responses of total TEC to the eclipse were analyzed. The results show that: 1) the eclipse led to apparent decrement in TEC that lasted for six to eight hours; 2) the maximum decrement occurred after the middle of the eclipse with time delays varying from twenty minutes to about three hours; 3) the maximum absolute deviations of TEC on the eclipse day do not show a simple and consistent relationship to the maximum solar obscuration.

Remote sensing ionospheric variations due to total solar eclipse, using GNSS observations

For years great interest has been taken in the effects of physical phenomena on ionosphere structure. A total solar eclipse was visible in North America on August 21 st, 2017. This event offered a great opportunity for remote sensing the ionospheric behavior under the eclipse condition. In this study we investigated the effects of total solar eclipse on variations of Total Electron Content(TEC), and consequently deviations on regional models of Vertical TEC(VTEC), as well as variations in ionospheric scintillation occurrence. Although variations of TEC due to total solar eclipse are studied thoroughly by many authors, but the effect of solar eclipse on ionospheric scintillation has never been considered before. Our study is based on measurements from a high-rate GPS network over North America on the day of eclipse, a day before and after its occurrence, on the other hand, GPS measurements from groundbased stations on similar days were used to model TEC on the day of event, and also one day before and after it. The results of this study demonstrate that solar eclipse reduced scintillation occurrence at the totality region up to 28 percent and TEC values showed a decrease of maximum 7 TECU. Considering TEC models, our study showed apparent variations in the regional models, which confirms previous studies on ionospheric responses to eclipse as well as theoretical assumptions.

Prominence Activity during the 2006 Total Solar Eclipse

During total solar eclipses, we can observe the outer atmospheric layers of the sun (chromosphere and corona). The solar corona extends to several solar radii depending on the sunspot cycle. Basic coronal structures such as polar streamers, helmet type structures were?observed?during the 2006 total solar eclipse. Our total solar eclipse 2006 observations through?both White light corona and H-Alpha filter allowed us to describe coronal structures and Prominence Activity. We found that the solar corona is extended to 4 times of solar radii, the existence different zones of white light corona were shown, moreover, we compared the defined features of solar corona at different observing locations along the track of total solar eclipse 2006. The solar limb activity was studied during both of partial and total eclipse phases by using H-Alpha and white light observations from Salloum, Egypt. We got same prominence activity during partial and total phases of the solar eclipse and recorded three prominences on solar limb. Finally, our processed image in a good agreement with the published?processed images?was?observed from different locations along the track of total eclipse,?added, similar magnetic field structure shown in our processed image and published one.

The calibration and initial results of the HeI D3 line flash spectrum obtained during the 2008 total solar eclipse

The flash spectra in the HeI D3 line were obtained during the 2008 total solar eclipse. This paper describes the instrument and the calibration of the obtained flash spectrum, and presents our initial results. The average integrated intensity is Eave = 8.13×1013 erg·cm-1· s-1·ster-1 at h = 1100 km, which confirms that the HeI D3 emission is negatively correlated with the solar activity. The surface brightness reaches a maximum of F ave = 8.25×105 erg·cm-2·s-1·ster-1 at about h ≈ (1290 ± 75) km and then decreases exponentially with height when h >1800 km with an exponential index β = 1.63×10-8 cm-1.

Joint observation results of Na layer and ionosphere in Wuhan during the Total Solar Eclipse

During the total solar eclipse on July 22, 2009 in Wuhan, the joint observation test of Na layer and ionosphere was conducted by using the daytime observation atmospheric lidar and the GPS ionosphere detector. The results show that the full width at half maximum(FWHM) of Na layer density slightly narrowed during the total solar eclipse and broadened after the eclipse, while the height of Na peak slightly decreased in the eclipse and increased after the eclipse. These implying that Na layer changes reflect the rapid process of sunrise and sunset. The ionosphere total electron content(TEC) and the sky background light noise also presented an obvious fluctuation characteristic with the changes of solar irradiation during the process of total solar eclipse. The difference lies in that the changes of FWHM of Na layer atoms are much slower than that of ionosphere, the reason for this might be that the Na layer, after being disturbed by the total solar eclipse, will generate a series of complicated photochemical reactions and momentum transport processes, and then recombine the Na atoms. The Na atoms to be detected by the lidar need a lag process, which rightly conforms to the theoretical simulated results.

Near infrared spectral and polarization imaging observation of coronal emission lines during the 2008 total solar eclipse

During the 2008 total solar eclipse, the coronal emission lines were observed by using optical fibre spectrometric and polarization imaging system in near infrared waveband. The profiles of the coronal emission lines including Fe XIII 10747 , 10798  and He I 10830  were obtained with dispersion of 0.5 /pix. The intensity of Fe XIII 10747  remained unchanged in the two different coronal regions while the intensity of He I 10830  varied considerably in the two coronal locations no matter whether the prominence appeared or not. The coronal polarization images were observed at Fe XI 7892  with a bandpass of 30  in a series of exposure times.

The search for vulcanoids in the 2008 total solar eclipse

Interior to Mercury's orbit is a dynamically stable region where a population of small, asteroid-like bodies called Vulcanoids has been hypothesized to reside. The Vulcanoid Zone (VZ) extends inward from about 0.18 au to about 0.08 au. During the Total Solar Eclipse (TSE) in 2008, a search for Vulcanoids was completed. Although no Vulcanoids was detected to a moving object detection limit of V=12.8, the search was far more comprehensive than previous searches.

Gravity anomaly during the Mohe total solar eclipse

By using a high-precision LaCoste-Romberg (D-122#) gravimeter, continuous and precise measurements were carried out during the March 9,1997 total solar eclipse in the Mohe region in Northeast China. The gravity variations were digitally recorded during the total solar eclipse so as to investigate the possible anomaly of the sun and the moon’s gravitational fields on the earth. After the careful processing and analysis of the observed data, no significant anomaly during the very solar eclipse has been found. However, there are two ’gravity anomaly valleys’ with near symmetrical decrease of about 6-7 μGal at the first contact and the last contact. This is the anomaly phenomenon observed and reported for the first time in the literature. This note presents some analyses and discussions.

Coronal structure and brightness profile of the total solar eclipse on August 1,2008

Solar corona is the outermost part of the solar atmosphere. Coronal activities influence space environment between the Sun and the Earth, space weather and the Earth itself. The total solar eclipse (TSE) is the best opportunity to observe the solar corona on ground. During the TSE 2008, a series of images of the corona and partial eclipse of solar disk were obtained using telescope and CCD camera. After image processing, preliminary results of coronal structure are given, and radial brightness profiles of the corona in directions of pole and equator of the Sun are measured. Though in solar activity minimum, the shape and structure of the corona are not symmetry. The equatorial regions are more extent than the polar one, and there are also larger differences between the east and west equatorial regions and between the south and north polar regions. Coronal streamers on east side of the equator, particularly the largest one in east-south direction, are very obvious. The coronal plume in south polar region consists of more polar rays than that in north polar region. These structures are also shown in other observations and data of SOHO. The radial brightness profiles in directions of pole and equator are similar to those of the Van de Hulst model in solar minimum, but there are a few differences due to coronal activity, which is shown in the isophote map of the corona.

Tomographic Study of Ionospheric Effects Associated with a Solar Eclipse

This paper studies the ionospheric effects associated with the solar eclipse of October 24th, 1995 by means of Computerized Ionospheric Tomography (CIT). Since the reconstructed profiles from experimental CIT are sporadically located in time, a time domain interpolation method based on Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) technique is proposed and applied to extract the ionospheric effects. The effects can be extracted by comparison analysis between the interpolated CIT profiles of the eclipse days and that of the reference day that are time-aligned. A series of figs have been obtained showing the attenuation of photonization effect at low altitudes and the weakening of plasma’s transportation process at high altitudes, etc. The photonization effect recovered to normal level soon after the last contact. The maximum electron density diminishing is observed about 2 h after the eclipse maximum and the effects seem vanished in the hours followed. Analysis on vertical TEC’s latitudinal-temporal variation gives similar conclusions.

Influence of Solar Cycle Variations on Solar Spectral Radiation

The climatic changes associated with solar variability are largely caused by variations in total solar irradiance and solar spectral irradiance with solar activity. Thus the spectral composition of solar radiation is crucial in determining atomspheric structure. The variations in solar spectrum depend on the varied solar spots. Recently, evidence for a strong effect of solar activity on terrestrial isolation on ground-based measurements carried out by the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Helwan, Egypt (lat. 29?52'N and long. 31?20'E) during (1990-2000) were presented. Specifically, a strong increase of terrestrial isolation with sunspot number as well as a decline of the solar spectrum with solar activity was reported. Daily measurements of the solar radiation between 280 nm and 2800 nm were made by Eppley Pyranometer and Pyrheliometer instruments. The decreasing at the range 280 - 530 nm and 530 - 630 nm are represented less than 50% of direct solar radiation and the stability of at the range 630 - 695 nm and 695 - 2800 nm it mean that;some of difference radiation is appear in diffused radiation which allow to height of the temperature as much as the largest associated with significance as it appears from the curves of relative humidity.

Recent progress in solar physics made during the program of 2008 August 1st solar total eclipse

The development of solar physics is presented from the program of 2008 total eclipse in China,including the presentations in the international workshop in this period and some observational results of the solar eclipse.

2009年日全食期间黄梅台的固体潮扰动

对2009年7月22日日全食期间,黄梅固体潮观测台站3种固体潮观测仪器的观测数据进行了分析,发现3种观测数据都存在小幅扰动现象。其中,洞体应变南北分量扰动幅度为27.6×10-10,东西分量幅度为9.52×10-10,水管与宽频带垂直摆北南分量扰动幅度分别为0.88毫秒与1.84毫秒。进一步的分析表明,扰动与气温变化具有较强相关性。

1997-03-09日全食的甚低频观测与分析

在1997-03-09发生日全食期间,在河南省新乡市对Alpha甚低频（VLF）信号的观测试验发现,日全食对VLF信号传播特性有很大的影响,明显引起VLF相位滞后.讨论了日全食对VLF信号传播影响的机理,并用＂波导模＂理论对这种影响进行了理论计算.计算结果表明：VLF传播路径穿越日全食主食带的情况下,VLF相速比正常情况减小的最大值约为0.101%-0.118%;VLF传播路径穿越80%日偏食带的情况下,该值约为0.064%-0.082%.

基于GPS技术实时监测2009年7月22日日全食期间长三角区域电离层TEC变化

2009年7月22日上午发生的日全食是21世纪持续时间最长的日全食,其全食带覆盖了中国中部的长江流域,为研究日全食对电离层的影响提供了一次难得的机会.为此本文通过卡尔曼滤波算法实现了实时求解TEC和GPS系统硬件延迟,为实时监测日全食期间电离层变化提供了绝对的电离层TEC.采用上海和浙江区域内GPS网的观测数据,建立了实时区域电离层延迟模型,进而计算出了实时的VTEC和TEC变化率.同时考虑太阳和地磁活动参数,综合上述方法详细分析和讨论了长三角区域在此次日全食期间的TEC变化的电离层异常现象.

木薯花生间作系统的生态稳定性研究

通过田间试验研究了木薯花生间作模式对生态系统稳定性的影响,并对土壤含水量和pH等进行关联分析。结果表明:①环境发生突变时,间作措施下化生三对环境变化抵抗力要优于纯作措施,体现出间作优势;突变结束后,纯作措施下花生的光合有效速率(Pn)恢复能力则更强,体现出纯作优势。②借助叶温模型的构建,创建间作优势度(intercroppingdominance,ID)这一概念,进而得出木薯花生间作模式的ID为+0.83%,说明术薯花生间作存有间作优势。③对生态环境的影响方面,木薯花生间作无疑提高了水分保持效能,但从一定程度上加剧了红壤的酸化。

日全食对地基GPS和微波辐射计气象观测影响分析

利用2009年7月22日日全食前后地基GPS/MET水汽监测和微波辐射计观测的资料,分析日全食对温度、相对湿度、液态水含量、水汽密度廓线、地面温度、气压、水汽总量、液态水总量、云底高度、以及GPS探测的大气可降水汽总量等气象观测量的影响.同一站点日全食发生前后资料对比、以及位于日全食带和非全食带不同站点的同时资料对比分析显示:在两种设备的气象观测中,日食最为直接影响的是200 m以下近地层的温度和相对湿度,并对1 000 m以下区间温度和相对湿度形成明显的扰动;对于气压、水汽和液态水总量的影响较弱,对云底高度的影响不明显.

2009年7月22日日全食期间电离层参量的变化

利用多个电离层垂测站的数据和IGS-TEC数据资料,结合日地空间环境指数,分析了2009年7月22日日全食期间中国地区电离层参量(反射回波最低频率f_(min)及f_0f_2和TEC)的变化特征.结果表明,日食发生后f_(min)迅速降低,日食结束后f_(min)迅速恢复到正常水平;在食甚时刻附近,F_0f_2和TEC出现明显的降低,显示了明显的光食效应.日食结束后5～6 h,f_0f_2和TEC出现不同程度的正扰动,在驼峰区更明显;日食结束后9～10 h,f_0f_2和TEC出现较显著的负扰动.由于此次日食发生时伴随着中等强度的磁暴和低纬电场穿透等空间天气事件,给此次日食电离层效应的深入分析带来很大困难.

2009年7月22日日全食引起的电离层扰动及其对定位的影响

2009年7月22日发生在亚太地区的日全食,从北半球中纬地区一直延伸到南半球中纬地区.这次日食期间发生的磁暴和日食时间同步,使得电离层变化较为复杂.为了分析日食期间电离层扰动及其对定位的影响,所采用的GPS数据来源于日全食带内的重庆CORS网(4个站)、武汉CORS网(8个站)数据、IGS站WUHN、SHAO的数据,以及日偏食区域内不同纬度处的若干IGS站.通过比较日食前后连续三天的各个地方TEC变化,以及利用高采样率的CORS网数据研究日食期间TEC的瞬时变化,根据位置和时间的不同,各地日食期间TEC下降约(1～4)TECU.但是,磁暴期间TEC的响应整体表现为正相暴,偏离值达50%以上,且和日食食甚后的TEC变化相重合.同时,求解了日食期间伪距单点定位的实时精度和CORS网内中短基线的实时精度,伪距单点定位的平面精度变化不显著,高程精度下降达数十米,日食初期CORS网中基线的平面精度仍在厘米级内,高程精度仍在分米级内,但是,日食后期发生的磁暴导致基线的平面精度下降到分米级,高程精度下降到米级.

利用太阳测量整层大气光谱透过率

简要介绍了利用太阳辐射测量整层大气光谱透过率的实验装置、测量原理和数据处理方法。为得到大气光学参数的实际变化规律,设计了由宽光谱范围的平场凹面光栅和高灵敏度的线阵CCD构成的硬件系统,利用太阳直接辐射测量其连续光谱,使用Langley拟合方法进行定标,通过运算得到了实际天气条件下的大气光谱透过率。将实测结果与现有其他设备的测量数据进行了对比,证明了测量结果的可靠性。