SPIDR on the Web: Space Physics Interactive

Transcription

1 Radio Science, Volume 32, Number 5, Pages , September-October 1997 SPIDR on the Web: Space Physics Interactive Data Resource on-line analysis tool Karen Fay O'Loughlin Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder Abstract. The National Geophysical Data Center's innovative Space Physics Interactive Data Resource (SPIDR) is a multidisciplinary on-line system to search, browse, and access space weather and environmental data sets over the Internet. SPIDR is a tool for the online user to select data or imagery by date and geographical location and deliver an image to the user over the World Wide Web. Currently, Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite imagery, geomagnetic variations, ionospheric vertical incidence databases, and NOAA Goestationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) space environment monitor data can be accessed by SPIDR. DMSP visible, infrared, and microwave imagery displays aurora, city lights, fires, lightning strikes, and cloud coverage. Ionospheric and geomagnetic data, as well as GOES X ray, energetic particle, and the magnetic field at the spacecraft, can be plotted from interactive menus. Solar and geomagnetic indices can be generated as plots for comparison. The Web user selects the month and year from pull-down menus and clicks the worldwide map in the region of interest. Worldwide contour maps of maximum electron density can also be generated from a global model of the ionosphere. Introduction capability to the external user in an easy-to-use on-line format. The Space Physics Interactive Data Resource NGDC decided to provide plots and imagery, as (SPIDR) was designed to use current technology to well as data, to customers utilizing commercial offmeet both internal and external user requirements. the-shelf software to create graphical image format Internally, the National Geophysical Data Center (GIF) images "on the fly." Selected for this purpose (NGDC) needed flexibility in the management of the was the Interactive Data Language (IDL) set of national archives to conduct data analysis, to assess software tools to create and display imagery. The the quality of the archives, and to extract and manip- SPIDR system retrieves the requested data from a ulate instrumental data for input into physical modrelational database management system, generates a els. The SPIDR research and analysis tool gives us plot, prepares a GIF image of the plot, and sends the this capability. NGDC also needed an easy-to-use image to the user over the World Wide Web. Figures mechanism to inventory, catalog, and search the 1-6 show images from the SPIDR on-line interactive archives. A relational database management system search, browse, and display tool. was selected to achieve the required flexibility. Finally, this capability to search the data sets, to create a data display "on the fly," to browse the archives, and to conduct interdisciplinary analysis on the Internet was opened up for everyone to use. To meet external user requirements, NGDC needed to provide access to the archives in a variety of ways to satisfy customer requests and to provide data products and services. Using today's technology on the World Wide Web, we are able to provide this Copyright 1997 by the American Geophysical Union. Paper number 97RS /97/97RS A Tool for Conducting On-Line Research SPIDR is a tool to make accessing data and con- ducting research easier. Navigating the relational database with the SPIDR World Wide Web tool will assist scientists and researchers in analyzing space weather and environmental data. At NGDC, SPIDR is used as a tool for data management, analysis, and investigations of space environment effects on man's technology in space and on Earth. The average user is in the SPIDR system for a full hour browsing, retrieving, and manipulating images and plots. Users may capture and download images

2 2022 O'LOUGHLIN: SPIDR ON THE WEB Alison Erin Felix d. -%>',.;,.., ' ' "':'½"..-:..',..... ß... DMSP hurricane images Figure 1. View the progression of hurricanes and typhoons with satellite images readily accessible through the Space Physics Interactive Data Resource (SPIDR). for later use or may request digital values using age. The button tool allows users to "fly" one of four . SPIDR is being used for atmospheric physical DMSP satellites around the globe. sciences homework assignments in the classroom from elementary through graduate levels! Space physics effects seen in the ionosphere can be Ionospheric Vertical Sounding Database analyzed in a multidisciplinary environment through the on-line manipulation of the database manage- Users can plot ionospheric vertical sounding data ment tool. The database management system will from four full solar cycles of data (1950 through 1997) enable global quality control both by comparing data from a global network of up to 101 different ionand through providing input from the database man- osonde stations, including near-real-time data from agement system to physical models and comparing the NOAA Space Environment Laboratory Data the model output with the observed values. Acquisition and Display System (SELDADS). The Web user chooses the month and year from the pull-down menus. An "on the fly" map is generated Defense Meteorological Satellite Program with the stations containing data for the period Satellite Imagery selected. The user clicks the map in the region of DMSP polar orbiting satellites collect visible and interest, and the closest station with data available is thermal infrared imagery in global coverage along a automatically plotted. Currently, plots of the critical 3000-km-wide swath with the operational linescan frequency (f of2) are generated with monthly medians plotted as a red line overlaying the daily values. The termfof 2 is the critical frequency of the ordinary system (OLS). Internet users may select imagery by date and geographical position anywhere on the Earth. DMSP visible, infrared, and special sensor microwave imager (SSM/I) data are returned, along with a map of the satellite path and a button tool for navigating the database of worldwide satellite cover- ionosonde trace, which is related to the peak electron density (NmF2) by the following relationship: NmF2 = 1.24 X 101ø(foF2)2

3 :.. O'LOUGHLIN: SPIDR ON THE WEB 2023 Ion:ospheric Da......, HOURLY fof2 VALUES; (Mhz) ' ' Pl 11 ". EK)ULDER FEBRUARY 1986 UNI ERS Ti E " T: 0.0 ON: ;'... ;... ""'... ::'=" ',o..... :... : :::: ::. -. =.=.:===.=.=...?..=..:...=.::::......:... =... : } : :.: :-:-.-' ::...; :: '....:. == ::... ß ::: :: :., ' : :... :::.: : :... : ==..':'.:...: ß... -,.::.::..==...=. : = =.; :; -===- :=::-./=.... =:. = =j";...,...=. ====....?:.. '-] ;=:; ;:. :; :==?'... :....?::-- ':-:... ;..: : :::- :;... '" '"'::'-:" ':': :": '=5':':":'>' : = :: ] :f;:: -:,.... i' u",'y i $ -T b.: sp t.n- m= e ts : '= ' ::.:/ -:--.: ==. :- :'g : ? }?-... Figure 2. Ionospheric maximum electron density data plot for Boulder, Colorado, containing the February 1986 storm, with median values for the month indicated. User can select from four solar cycles of ionospheric data by global location. Also shown is a map of ionospheric maximum electron density worldwide contour plot. where NmF 2 is in electrons/m -3 and fof2 is in megahertz [Davies, 1990]. Other scaled and derived parameters including the true height of the maximum density (hmf2) are planned for future SPIDR developments. Digital data from ionosonde stations around the world are added to the SPIDR database as they are electron density based on month and sunspot number. Geomagnetic Variations Database Geomagnetic 1-min variations data for 1990 through 1997 from up to 61 observatories worldwide received, processed, and passed through quality con- reside in a database management system. Users can trol filters. Each month, NGDC receives near-real- interactively search the database for the date and time data from the SELDADS network for the pre- location of interest. Geomagnetic 1-min variation vious month and places them in the SPIDR database data are selected, plotted, and distributed over the tagged as preliminary data. Web. The effect of geomagnetic activity on the iono- The Internet user may also choose to generate a sphere may produce an aurora that can be quickly worldwide contour plot computed from the iono- accessed through links to the DMSP browse imagery. spheric conductivity and electron density (ICED) Digital hourly values dating back to 1902 from 223 global model of the ionosphere [Tascionet al., 1987]. different geomagnetic observatories will be loaded The user completes the selection form, and SPIDR into the SPIDR system in the future. Also planned is then displays a color contour map of maximum the ability to create plots for multiple observatories

4 .. ß O'LOUGHLIN: SPIDR ON THE WEB Six consecutive South Pole passes c '. :.....?::'.:Z:::..... ::: '. i:;.... :9: %... ':':" DMSP aurora images Figure 3. This series of polar auroral images depicts the south pole as data are made available through time..i'.... :. :, :>.'.;*%.. \... '::.:.., ':: -: :. [}%: '*-:.*;:i... -:--::;:::' i:::**::.. ;::..-.: ;::... ' :' -.. '.... ( :: Figure 4. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites collect visible and thermal infrared imagery in global coverage along a 3000-km swath with the Operational Linescan System (OLS). Users within SPIDR can select DMSP imagery by date and geographical position anywhere on Earth. DMSP images are then returned, along with the satellite path and a button tool for navigating the database.

5 . O'LOUGHLIN: SPIDR ON THE WEB 2025 '...:.:.t-- :d ', 'm - ' ½..x _ i. -._s:- ' _.,J 5:5'... f '" b, <' ".7 " '. '"C '- '..?._......:....:.....: "--g ß ". : "..:.. -.:> DMSP visible image for Jan. 29, 1995 showing aurora over.anada and Greenland and city lights in Nova Scotia Figure 5. Geomagnetic variation data of interest can often be correlated with DMSP visible OLS data, as in this image showing an auroral display during the geomagnetic storm of January 29, stacked one above the other for comparison. Geomagnetic indices Ap and Kp are available on SPIDR as well. Geomagnetic and Solar Indices Just added to the SPIDR system is the ability to create plots of geomagnetic and solar indices. The Web user specifies the search criteria by completing a form over the World Wide Web. Geomagnetic Kp sum and Ap indices and solar sunspot number and 10.7-cm flux are arrayed for comparison. GOES Space Environment Monitor Data Also new to the SPIDR research and analysis tool is the ability to plot GOES space environment data. GOES satellites carry onboard a space environment monitor system that measures X rays, energetic particles, and the magnetic field at the spacecraft. Data from five GOES satellites from 1986 through 1997 are available to be selected, plotted, and distributed over the Web. Future SPIDR Development The SPIDR system is an actively evolving data access and visualization tool. Input from scientists and other users around the globe has and will continue to shape the development of the SPIDR system. The needs of both external and NGDC users set the priorities for SPIDR, with the goal being to satisfy both external and internal users through a single interface. In addition to future developments mentioned above, projects in the immediate future include data delivery for SPIDR data sets. Additional databases and capabilities will be added subsequently, including DMSP global daily maps, solar cosmic ray plots, and ionospheric parameter generation and "on the fly" contour maps.

6 2026 O'LOUGHLIN: SPIDR ON THE WEB Figure 6. GOES X ray, energetic particle, and the magnetic field at the spacecraft can be plotted from interactive menus. The plot shown for October 1989 illustrates a classic space weather event. The X-ray panel shows an enhancement due to a solar flare. The particle panel shows an associated solar particle event, one of the largest ever recorded. The magnetic field data measured by GOES illustrate the effect of this solar event on Earth's magnetic field. SPIDR on the Web NGDC's multidisciplinary on-line system to search, browse, and acces space weather and environmental data sets over the Internet is located on NGDC's Solar-Terrestrial Physics home page at ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/stp.html. To reach the SPIDR research and analysis tool, click on the SPIDR icon and choose the discipline you wish to explore. Use "hot links" to reach additional descriptions about the imagery and data. The ionosphere Web pages also link to SPIDR. In addition to SPIDR, many other space weather data sets may be found on the Solar- Terrestrial Physics Web pages. References Davies, K., Ionospheric Radio, p. 107, Peter Peregrinus, London, Tascione, T. F., H. W. Kroehl, and B. A. Hausman, ICED--A synoptic scale ionospheric model, in The Effect of the Ionosphere on Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance Systems, edited by J. M. Goodman, pp , Naval Res. Lab., Washington, D.C., K. F. O'Loughlin, NOAA National Geophysical Data Center, Mail Code E/GC2, 3100 Marine Street, Boulder, CO ( oloughlin@ngdc.noaa.gov) (Received October 15, 1996; revised February 17, 1997; accepted March 3, 1997.)