Longitudinal variations of ionospheric parameters near totality during the eclipse of December 14, 2020

BLAS F. DE HARO BARBAS; MANUEL BRAVO; ANA G. ELIAS; MIGUEL MARTINEZ-LEDESMA

ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2022 vol. 69 p. 2158 - 2167

0273-1177

On December 14, 2020, a total solar eclipse occurred whose shadow cone projected over part of South America. Its effect on critical ionospheric frequencies variability is analysed, considering two stations with similar geographical latitudes and a 95% obscuration percentage: Chillán (36.6°S, 72.0°W), in Chile, and Bahía Blanca (38.9°S, 62.2°W), in Argentina. A comparison of the ionospheric response to the eclipse is made with quiet time daily values and the IRI-2016 model. Results indicate that the greatest eclipse impacts are obtained in foE and foF1, with ∼31% and ∼40% of maximum reductions, respectively. Alternatively, weak disturbances are observed in the foF2 case (