Ionospheric TEC Variation and Gravity Waves Signatures During the Solar Eclipse on 21 June 2020 Over Southern China

The total electron content (TEC) derived from ground‐based BeiDou geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite receivers lying on both sides of the eclipse path is used to study the ionospheric variations in southern China, particularly targeting eclipse‐induced gravity waves in the ionosphere during the annular solar eclipse on 21 June 2020. Eclipse‐induced gravity waves (GWs) signatures with periods of about 70 min, from wavelet analysis, were identified on both sides of TEC observations, which are most likely to be induced in the thermosphere. However, there were significant differences in the intensity of the gravity waves on both sides of the eclipse path, gravity waves are stronger on the northern side of the eclipse path than on the southern side. Moreover, a postponement of TEC depletion shows on the northern side of the eclipse path which is caused by the convergence effect of the wind field. And at the same obstruction rate, GWs possibly can slightly adjust the postponement of TEC depletion on a small scale. Key Points The eclipse‐induced thermospheric gravity waves are observed by BeiDou‐geostationary orbit total electron content (TEC) on both sides of the solar eclipse path Gravity waves are stronger on the northern side of the eclipse path than that on the southern side due to convergence effects The gravity waves on the northern side may slightly contribute to the postponement of the TEC depletion on a small scale