Observation of atmospheric scintillation during the 2020 total eclipse in northern Patagonia

Abstract

During the December 2020 total eclipse we registered time resolved light measurements of incident solar light with VIS-NIR photodiodes in northern Patagonia. Signals compatible with the observation of shadow bands in the 200 s before and after totality were observed. A strong increase in the normalized noise spectral densities of recorded incident radiation near totality suggests the presence of shadow bands. Originally high-altitude balloon measurements and spatial correlation ground measurements were planned, but the harsh climate conditions limited the campaign’s results.

Keywords

• shadow bands
• eclipse