Auroral Boundary Index from 1983 to 1990

Abstract

Since the release of the auroral boundary index for the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)/F2 satellite, equivalent midnight auroral equatorward boundaries have been routinely processed for the DMSP/F6,/ F7,/F8 and /F9 satellites at the AFGL. The auroral equatorward boundary selection algorithm was modified from that for the SSJ/3 particle detector on the/F2 satellite to work for the next generation SSJ/4 instrument that flies on the later satellites. The final product presented here is comprised of a series of solar rotation plots, stacked five per page for the period 1 January 1983 to 15 May 1990. The equivalent midnight boundaries that are plotted are a subset of the complete data base. Only those boundaries occurring in the evening sector are used since there is little ambiguity in their selection. In addition, we apply other criteria that are somewhat satellite dependent. The original set of criteria used on the boundaries from the /F6 and /F7 satellites were modified when boundaries from /F8 and /F9 satellites became available. Since all plots of boundaries that made their way to the public before 1988 used the 'original' criteria, both 'original' and 'modified' criteria are explained.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 21, 1990
Accession Number
ADA232845

Entities

People

  • D. Madden
  • M. S. Gussenhoven

Organizations

  • Air Force Systems Command

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Air Force
  • Algorithms
  • Ambiguity
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Boundaries
  • Coefficients
  • Databases
  • Detectors
  • High Latitudes
  • Latitude
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Northern Hemisphere
  • Rotation
  • Southern Hemisphere
  • Statistics
  • Time Intervals

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space