Solar Eclipse 1979. Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory Program Overview.

摘要

The 1979 solar eclipse provides a unique opportunity to better understand the interrelationship of many factors which influence the chemical, physical, and electrical structure of the earth's middle atmosphere. An eclipse provides a day-'night'-day transition on the time scale of a few minutes, thus allowing the rapid processes which affect the electron and ion chemistry to be monitored, while assuring that the bulk properties of the neutral atmosphere vary in a regular and predictable manner. Experimental findings from past eclipses have indicated that a very rapid electron attachment/detachment process exists in the D-region which is not reproduced in our present models and yet needs to be explained because of its potential impact on Army communication systems and nuclear weapons effects studies. To better understand these properties of the middle atmosphere, the Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory is helping to coordinate a field experiment program for the 26 February 1979 solar eclipse. (Author)