Observation of the ionospheric and thermospheric modifications during solar eclipses and their impact on the geomagentic field.

• Applicant: Dr. Ana Teresa Monteiro Tomás
• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science
• Term: from 2006 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 32520558

Observation of the Earth¿s upper atmosphere during a solar eclipse represent a unique opportunity of study the response of this region of the atmosphere to sudden variations of the solar energy input. This altitude region is of great operational importance since all satellites in low-Earth orbit and manned spacecraft are cruising at these heigths. In the past years eclipse studies have been performed from ground based observations leading partly to cotradictory observations of the ionospheric conditions during the eclipse and to open questions as to the effect on the geomagnetic field. Furthermore, the effects on the thermosphere have nerver been thouroughly studied, leaving important questions to be answered. With the launch of CHAMP in 2000 this situation improved considerably. Not only in-situ measurements of the upper atmosphere are now available, but also different types of eclipses in different regions can be studied with the same methods. In this proposal we will focus on the study of solar eclipses effects in the Earth¿s ionosphere and thermosphere, as well as the signatures in the geomagnetic field observed during the years 2001 and 2005.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• Host: Professor Dr. Hermann Lühr