Radio signals unexpectedly faster during solar eclipse, Bengal radio enthusiasts find

Radio signals penetrated the atmosphere unexpectedly faster during the total annular solar eclipse that crossed North, South America and Mexico till 2:00 a.m. (IST) today, according Bengal radio enthusiasts bounced radio waves off the ionosphere (80 - 650 km upwards) and recorded 'sky wave effects' during the solar eclipse, aiming to help scientists in analyzing what actually happens to electromagnetic waves and radio signals when the moon blocks the sun.

- KANCHAN SIDDIQUI

The 'Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HAMSci)' led by the department of Physics and Engineering of the University of Scranton at Pennsylvania and funded by the United States National Science Foundation, NASA, had invited the global HAMSci community to track the radio signals, analyze changes in their designated wave characteristics during the total solar eclipse.

The electromagnetic waves though initially stays low to the ground, eventually heads off towards outer space, reaching the ionosphere, and after getting bounced off the upper layers extends vastly bearing the radio communication.