Ionospheric total electron content response to the Great American Solar Eclipse of 21 August 2017

The high-resolution, two-dimensional maps of the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) were constructed using combined GPS and GLONASS measurements. Solar eclipse resulted in a continent-size TEC decrease with stronger effects up to 50% over the U.S. eastern coast.

Along the totality path within an area of 75% obscuration TEC decreased by similar to 30-40%. We reveal a latitudinal dependence of the TEC response with equatorward expansion of TEC depletion. Recovery signature in the form of large-scale TEC enhancement up to 20-30% occurred in posteclipse period.