ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE IN JAFFNA, SRI LANKA

Authors

L. Ajith DeSilva, Department of Physics, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GAFollow
Javier E. Hasbun, Department of Physics, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GAFollow
K. Tennakone, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Atlanta GA and National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Sri LankaFollow

Abstract

The path of maximum for the annular eclipse of December 26th,2019, includes land areas of Saudi Arabia, India, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Malasia, Philippines, and Guam; that is, in addition to passing through the Indian and Pacific oceans. A team of interested scientists travel to the city of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and report their measurements. Jaffna, itself, happens to be on the path of maximum. Spectral intensity variation, surface ozone and hydrogen H-alpha measurements conducted are compared to prior experiments. In our previous experiments, carried out at the University of West Georgia, Carrollton, Georgia, during the time of the solar eclipse of 21st August, 2017, demonstrated that the integrated spectral irradiance in defined wavelength ranges in the ultraviolet and visible reached a minimum at maximum obscuration of the sun, whereas in an infrared range it was maximum. In a surface ozone measurement, a minimum in ozone concentration occurred thirty minutes after the instant of maximum obscuration. This Jafna eclipse allows us an opportunity to conduct an additional trial to previous observations. The results of measurements as well as the journey to the observation camp are discussed.

Acknowledgements

Funding support provided by the Georgia Space Grant Consortium, a NASA Training Grant NNH18ZHA007C and UWG SRAP and COSM FRG programs.

Recommended Citation

DeSilva, L. Ajith; Hasbun, Javier E.; and Tennakone, K. (2020) "ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE IN JAFFNA, SRI LANKA," Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 78, No. 1, Article 98.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol78/iss1/98