The Changing Shape of the Ionosphere During a Solar Eclipse

Abstract

Solar eclipses affect not only the ionospheric layers' peak densities and heights but also the general shape of the electron density profile. We revisit data obtained from the ionosonde in Dourbes, Belgium, during the solar eclipse of March 20, 2015. Previously, these observations were used to study the behavior of the F and E layer peaks and the plasma drifts. We investigate here which shape parameters of the bottom-side ionosphere were affected during this event. We find that the International Reference Ionosphere parameter B 0 is most affected, while B 1 is not affected by the eclipse at all. The scale height and slab thickness also show some effects but less so than B 0 .