Solar eclipse of August 1, 2008, above Kharkov: 1. Results of incoherent scatter observations

The observation results of the effects in the geospace plasma during a partially (magnitude ∼0.42) solar eclipse are presented. The experimental data were obtained with an incoherent scatter radar of the Institute of the Ionosphere (near Kharkov). During the eclipse, the density at the F2 layer maximum decreased by 32%, the foF2 critical frequency decreased by 17.5%, and the altitude of the F2 layer maximum increased insignificantly. At altitudes of 290–680 km, the electron density decreased by ∼25%. During the eclipse, the electron and ion temperature decreased by 70–180 and 0–140 K, respectively, at altitudes of 190–490 km. Near the eclipse main phase, the plasma velocity vertical component decreased by 10–45 m/s at altitudes of 200–470 km, respectively. At the time of the eclipse main phase, the hydrogen ion fractional density increased by 50% as compared to the reference day at altitudes of 450–650 km.