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  • HF Radar Observations and Modeling of the Impact of the 8 April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse on the Ionosphere‐Thermosphere System
Title: HF Radar Observations and Modeling of the Impact of the 8 April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse on the Ionosphere‐Thermosphere System
Abstract The path of totality of the 8 April 2024 solar eclipse traversed the fields‐of‐view of four US SuperDARN radars. This rare scenario provided an excellent opportunity to monitor the large‐scale ionospheric response to the eclipse. In this study, we present observations made by the Blackstone (BKS) SuperDARN radar and a Digisonde during the eclipse. Two striking effects were observed by the BKS radar: (a) the Doppler velocities associated with ground scatter coalesced into a pattern clearly organized by the line of totality, with a reversal in sign across this line, and, (b) a delay of 45 min between time of maximum obscuration and maximum effect on the skip distance. The skip distance estimated using a SAMI3 simulation of the eclipse did not however capture the asymmetric time‐delay. These observations suggest that the neutral atmosphere plays an important role in controlling ionospheric plasma dynamics, which were missing in SAMI3 simulations.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1934973 1935110
PAR ID:
10580027
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume:
51
Issue:
24
ISSN:
0094-8276
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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