Determination of the Auroral Oval Q Index from the Air Weather Service K Index

Abstract

The AWS determines the auroral oval diameter in real time as a function of the Kp index from the particle precipitation measured aboard Defense Meteorological Satellites (DMSP). For the Q index needed to drive the auroral algorithm in the AWS polar ionospheric model, Hardy determined a relation between the Kp and the Q index. The analysis indicates that the auroral oval index Q computed from the AWS-K is overestimated. A least-squared deviation circle is fitted to the data base used in the Hardy algorithm. Using a four-year data set of Kp and Q observations, a new relation between the planetary magnetic activity index Kp and Q is determined to rectify this overestimation of the Q index. The new relation is :Q=0.964 Kp-0.3 for Kp<2 + and 0=2.04 Kp-2.7 for Kp>2 +. The improved, more precise Q values obtained from this relation will improve prediction of the auroral oval phenomena that affect the performance of the real time operational systems.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 18, 1993
Accession Number
ADA282764

Entities

People

  • B. S. Dandekar

Organizations

  • Phillips Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aeronomy
  • Air Force
  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Boundaries
  • Cameras
  • Data Sets
  • Databases
  • Electrons
  • High Latitudes
  • Ionospheric Models
  • Latitude
  • Measurement
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Models
  • Observation

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space