Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere changes caused by the July 2, 2019
total Eclipse in South America over the Andes Lidar Observatory, Cerro
Pachon, Chile
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a campaign covering a week of
observations around the July 2, 2019, total Chilean eclipse. The eclipse
occurred between 1922–2146 UTC, with complete sun disc obscuration
happening at 2038–2040 UTC (1638–1640 LT) over the Andes Lidar
Observatory (ALO) at
(30.3$^\circ$S,70.7$^\circ$W).
Observations were carried out using ALO instrumentation to observe
eclipse–induced effects on the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region
(MLT) (75–105 km altitude). Several mesosphere-sounding sensors were
utilized to collect data before, during, and after the eclipse,
including a narrow‐band resonance‐fluorescence 3D winds/temperature Na
lidar with daytime observing capability, a meteor radar observing
horizontal winds continuously, a multi-color nightglow all-sky camera
monitoring the OH(6,2), O$_2$(0,1), O($^1S$), and O($^1D$)
emissions, and a mesosphere temperature mapper (MTM) observing the
OH(6–2) brightness and rotational temperature. We have also utilized
TIMED/SABER temperatures and ionosonde measurements taken at the
University of La Serena’s Juan Soldado Observatory. We discuss the
effects of the eclipse in the MLT, which can shed light on a sparse set
of measurements during this type of event. Our results point out several
effects of eclipse–induced changes in the atmosphere below and above
but not directly within the MLT. These effects include an unusual fast,
bow–shaped gravity wave structure in airglow images, MTM brightness as
well as in lidar temperature, strong zonal wind shears above 100 km, the
occurrence of a sporadic E layer around 100 km, and finally variations
in lidar temperature and density and the presence of a descending
sporadic sodium layer near 98 km.