Temporal and spatial analysis of short-term ionospheric disturbances triggered by the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 based on GPS-TEC

doi:10.11947/j.AGCS.2026.20260033

Abstract

Abstract:

The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, offered a unique opportunity to investigate short-period ionospheric disturbances, the mechanisms of which were less well understood than the large-scale effects induced by eclipses. This study used data from high-density GPS stations, ionosondes, and balloon radiosondes across the United States to analyze the propagation characteristics of short-period ionospheric disturbances. ① All GPS stations located along the totality path observed ionospheric disturbances with fluctuation periods of 14~45 min and a central period of 19~34 min. The maximum negative disturbance appeared 4~8 min after totality, and the disturbances propagated along the direction of the totality path. Similar ionospheric disturbances were also detected in the detrended F2-layer critical frequency time series from ionosondes. In contrast, the detrended total electron content time series from GPS stations at progressively greater perpendicular distances from the totality path showed that the amplitude of ionospheric disturbances gradually decreased with increasing distance from the totality path. ② During the eclipse, short-period ionospheric disturbances resembling bow waves were observed. The disturbances were primarily concentrated near the path of totality and located predominantly behind the moving umbral shadow. ③ Two distinct types were identified based on the propagation characteristics. The first type propagated at a speed consistent with the movement of the total solar eclipse, with a propagation trajectory highly coincident with the eclipse path, and was unlikely to be a large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbance excited by gravity waves. The second type of disturbance had a horizontal phase velocity of 296~312 m/s, a horizontal wavelength of 340~393 km, and a period of 21~24 min, propagating outward from the totality center to both sides of the path. These are very likely medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances caused by eclipse-induced gravity waves. Balloon radiosonde observations indicate that this disturbance was very likely influenced by lower-atmospheric gravity waves.

Key words: solar eclipse, total electron content, traveling ionospheric disturbances, GPS

CLC Number:

P228

Yiyong LUO, Xiaohuan FENG, Jian KONG, Changzhi ZHAI, Tieding LU. Temporal and spatial analysis of short-term ionospheric disturbances triggered by the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 based on GPS-TEC[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2026, 55(6): 1003-1017.

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链	GPS站	纬度	经度	初亏UT	食甚UT	复圆UT	日食遮蔽度/（%）	链	GPS站	纬度	经度	初亏UT	食甚UT	复圆UT	日食遮蔽度/（%）
0	txkr	30.06°N	99.12°W	17.25	18.54	19.93	100	2	wimw	46.12°N	89.88°W	17.92	19.13	20.32	76
0	p807	30.50°N	98.82°W	17.27	18.56	19.94	100	2	wicr	45.58°N	88.89°W	17.92	19.14	20.34	80
…								…
0	nyhl	44.31°N	75.45°W	18.18	19.39	20.59	100	2	ncwh	34.28°N	78.72°W	17.96	19.24	20.47	73
0	nyrb	44.30°N	74.08°W	18.21	19.42	20.61	100	2	ncsl	33.98°N	78.39°W	17.96	19.24	20.47	72
1	mtdt	46.59°N	111.99°W	17.65	18.67	19.71	37	3	p802	46.56°N	100.62°W	17.76	18.91	20.06	57
1	mawy	44.97°N	110.69°W	17.60	18.66	19.75	42	3	sdhu	44.37°N	98.24°W	17.73	18.92	20.12	67
…								…
1	mepd	29.66°N	95.24°W	17.33	18.67	20.02	94	3	alse	32.45°N	87.01°W	17.65	18.98	20.27	83
1	uhc5	29.39°N	95.04°W	17.33	18.67	20.02	92	3	alnb	31.38°N	85.92°W	17.66	18.98	20.28	77