Observation of signals of VLF radio stations and VLF noise during the solar eclipse on March 29, 2006

Abstract

Effects of the solar eclipse on March 29, 2006 on signals of VLF radio stations, regular radio-noise intensity in the VLF range 0.3–10 kHz, and the number of atmospherics registered in Yakutsk mainly from the western direction are considered. The full lunar shadow zone consistently shaded the daytime section of the radio-signal propagation path from the western coast of Africa to Altai. A multichannel parallel analyzer-recorder (operating in the frequency range 0.47–8.7 kHz), one-point thunderstorm direction-and-range finder (0.3–100 kHz), narrow-sector radio-noise direction finder (0.3–10 kHz), recorder of VLF radio-station signals, and broadband radio-noise recorder (0.3–100 kHz) were used for observations. Time synchronization of the recorder of VLF radio-station signals was carried out with the help of GPS-clocks. The effect was observed in radio-station signals, radio-noise, and number of atmospherics from a direction of (270 ± 20)°, counted from the north clockwise, in the last stage of the eclipse (∼11–12 UT), when the lunar shadow approached the night terminator and crossed the signal propagation path. The effect was manifested through a ∼20% gain of the received signals, ∼40% increase in the number of atmospherics, and radio-station phase changes. The registered effects are similar to those we observed during the eclipse on March 9, 1997.