What are the influences of solar eclipses on the equatorial electrojet?

The response of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) to solar eclipses is studied in this work. We analyzed the magnetic field measurements obtained by three satellites, CHAMP, SAC-C and Ørsted and correlated them with ground-based observations during the eclipses. The observations show a local weakening of the EEJ after the shadow passed the dip equator. The size of the effect is, however, comparable with the day-to-day variability. In four out of five events we found the formation of a counter electrojet in the wake of the eclipse. We propose that the depression of the EEJ during an eclipse favors the formation of a counter electrojet.