First Global-Scale Synoptic Imaging of Solar Eclipse Effects in the Thermosphere.

ABSTRACT: A total solar eclipse occurred in the Southern Hemisphere on 2 July 2019 from approximately 17 to 22 UT. Its effect in the thermosphere over South America was imaged from geostationary orbit by NASA's Global-scale Observation of Limb and Disk (GOLD) instrument. GOLD observed a large brightness reduction (>80% around totality) in OI 135.6 nm and N₂ LBH band emissions compared to baseline measurements made 2 days prior. In addition, a significant enhancement (with respect to the baseline) in the ΣO/N₂ column density ratio (~80%) was observed within the eclipse's totality. This enhancement suggests that the eclipse induced compositional changes in the thermosphere. After the eclipse passed, a slight enhancement in ΣO/N₂ column density ratio (~7%) was also seen

SUBMITTER: Aryal S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7685169 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature