ABSTRACT
Among the wide variety of interesting solar and terrestrial phenomena associated with total solar eclipse (TSE) events, generation and observation of shadow bands is considered the most elusive. Generation of shadow bands during a TSE event depends upon both the appropriate narrowness of the un-eclipsed portion of the Sun illuminating the atmosphere, as well as the presence of turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. Visibility of shadow bands further depends on the environmental conditions around the observing site, for example, the local wind speed and direction. Characteristics of observed shadow bands are also a function of the location of the observer within the path of totality, solar illumination geometry, and so on. Despite the known existence of the shadow band phenomenon for a very long time, it still is considered an enigma. The primary reason for lack of satisfactory understanding of their origin is due to general paucity of systematic digital recording and analysis of their signatures.
This paper summarizes the observations and results of unique long-duration shadow band activity associated with the total solar eclipse of Nov. 23, 2003, over the Antarctic region. The observations were undertaken from near the Indian Antarctic Research Station Maitri as part of a dedicated short-duration Indian Antarctic Eclipse Expedition.
