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UNDERSTANDING THE DAILY SOLAR GEOPHYSICAL DATA BROADCAST -------------------------------------------------------- Revision 1.0 The Solar Terrestrial Dispatch (STD) has begun providing a daily broadcast of solar geophysical indices over the electronic networks. A sample broadcast message follows below. This sample broadcast data set will be fully described in this document. !!BEGIN!! S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 248, 09/05/91 10.7 FLUX=163.5 90-AVG=206 SSN=204 BKI=5454 3323 BAI=025 BGND-XRAY=B8.6 FLU1=2.7E+05 FLU10=8.3E+03 PKI=5454 4333 PAI=029 BOU-DEV=093,051,073,060,023,030,012,021 DEV-AVG=045 NT SWF=05:079 XRAY-MAX= M4.4 @ 0111UT XRAY-MIN= B8.0 @ 0914UT XRAY-AVG= C2.5 NEUTN-MAX= +003% @ 2250UT NEUTN-MIN= -002% @ 1700UT NEUTN-AVG= +0.5% PCA-MAX= +0.7DB @ 1425UT PCA-MIN= -0.2DB @ 2325UT PCA-AVG= -0.1DB BOUTF-MAX=55331NT @ 2250UT BOUTF-MIN=55263NT @ 1649UT BOUTF-AVG=55301NT GOES7-MAX=E:+113NT@ 0607UT GOES7-MIN=N:-052NT@ 0911UT G7-AVG=+067,+063,+002 GOES6-MAX=P:+101NT@ 1925UT GOES6-MIN=N:-010NT@ 1439UT G6-AVG=+073,+026,+014 FLUXFCST=STD:160,157,155 ; SESC:160,155,150 BAI/PAI-FCST=15,10,10 / 15,15,18 KFCST=3344 5433 2334 4211 28DAY-AP=019,011 28DAY-KP=2333 4333 2233 2322 WARNINGS=*MAJFLR;*PROTON ALERTS=**MAJFLR:X1.1/2B,N20E29(6857),0523-0555-0641,II=2@0551,IV=3@0602; **MINFLR:M4.4@0111;**MINFLR:M2.3@0528;**MINFLR:M1.6@1209; **TENFLR:2200,DUR:N/A !!END-DATA!! LINE 01 ------- !!BEGIN!! S.T.D. Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast for DAY 248, 09/05/91 !!BEGIN!! : Signifies the start of the report, for computer-controlled extraction of the data. DAY 248 : The day of the year for the report. 09/05/91 : Equivalent Month/Day/Year of the report. LINE 02 ------- 10.7 FLUX=164.5 90-AVG=206 SSN=204 BKI=5454 3323 BAI=025 10.7 FLUX=164.5 : The 10.7 cm solar radio flux as reported by the NRC-Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada (formerly produced by the Algonquin Radio Observatory in Ottawa). 90-AVG=206 : This value represents the 90-day average 10.7 cm solar radio flux. SSN=204 : This value is the observed sunspot number as observed by NOAA. BKI=5454 3323 : These digits represent the 8 three-hourly Boulder K-indices as observed by the Boulder USGS magnetometer. The first digit represents the observed K-index for the period from 00:00 UT to 02:59 UT. The second digit represents the observed K-index from 03:00 to 05:59 UT, and so forth. If data is unavailable, it is replaced with an asterisk. BAI=025 : This value is the observed 24:00 UT Boulder A-Index for Boulder, Colorado. LINE 03 ------- BGND-XRAY=B8.6 FLU1=2.7E+05 FLU10=8.3E+03 PKI=5454 4333 PAI=029 BGND-XRAY=B8.6 : This is the background x-ray flux value as reported by the Space Environment Laboratories. This value is produced by observing the background x-ray emissions in the soft-xray band (1 to 8 Angstroms). Consult the "Glossary of Solar Terrestrial Terms" as produced by the STD for information on understanding the x-ray classification scheme. This document is available for anonymous FTP from the site: "solar.stanford.edu" in "/pub", or on "nic.funet.fi". FLU1=2.7E+05 : This value is the observed proton fluence at greater than 1 MeV (million electron volts). FLU10=8.3E+03 : This is the observed proton fluence at greater than 10 MeV. PKI=5454 4333 : These digits represent the 8 three-hourly estimated planetary K-index values for the UT day. The format is the same as is used for the Boulder K-indices noted above. PAI=029 : This value represents the estimated planetary A-index value for the UT day. Occassionally, this value is not available at the time the data set is compiled. If this is the case, a preliminary calculation is made to estimate the planetary A-index value using the planetary K-indices. Although this will not produce an officially accurate result, the results calculated in this way are usually accurate to +/- 2 points. LINE 04 ------- BOU-DEV=093,051,073,060,023,030,012,021 DEV-AVG=045 NT SWF=05:079 BOU-DEV=093,051,073,060,023,030,012,021 These values represent the observed maximum deviation in the Boulder USGS magnetometer. The values are in nano- tesla (nT, or reported as "NT" elsewhere in the report). The first value represents the observed maximum deviation of the geomagnetic field (using the most disturbed magnetic component) during the period 00:00 UT to 02:59 UT. In this example, the maximum deviation observed was 93 nT between 00:00 UT and 02:59 UT. The second value represents the maximum deviation between 03:00 UT and 05:59 UT. Each of these values correspond to the observed Boulder K-index as reported on line 2 of this daily report. DEV-AVG=045 NT : This value represents the average daily maximum deviation of the Boulder magnetometer, given in units of nanotesla (or NT). It is produced by simply averaging the 8 three-hourly maximum deviation values given on this line. SWF=05:79 : The first value (05) represents the number of possible episodes of Short Wave Fades (SWFs) observed during the UT day. Short wave fading is simply a period of time when the absorption of High Frequency (HF) radio waves increases which produces a decrease in signal strengths of HF signals OVER SUNLIT AREAS. In other words, this value represents the approximate maximum number of times HF signals may have faded out during the UT day. It is important to note that SWFs are the strongest over the low and middle latitudes and are ONLY observed during the daylight hours, preferably when the sun is higher in the sky. The second value (79) represents the estimated maximum number of minutes that solar-flare activity may have produced observed SWFs. In this example, solar activity may have produced observed SWFs as many as five times during the UT day. The estimated maximum number of minutes that signals may have been degraded was 79. Please note that these values are estimated maximums. It is important to remember that most regions of the world are in darkness for many hours each UT day. During periods of darkness, SWFs will not be observed. Therefore, these values are most useful as indicators of the possible ionospheric disturbances which may have occurred during the daytime hours. Days with 00 episodes of SWF activity denote low levels of daytime sporadic HF signal absorption. LINE 05 ------- XRAY-MAX= M4.4 @ 0111UT XRAY-MIN= B8.0 @ 0914UT XRAY-AVG= C2.5 XRAY-MAX= M4.4 @ 0111UT This value represents the maximum observed X-ray level during the UT day, as well as the time of its occurrence. In this example, x-rays during this UT day peaked at a class M4.4 level at 01:11 UT. XRAY-MIN= B8.0 @0914UT This section of the report represents the minimum observed x-ray level during the UT day. Same format as the maximum. XRAY-AVG= C2.5 : This value represents the average x-ray flux observed during the UT day. This value is determined by averaging all of the 1-minute x-ray values during the UT day. This average value might not always be determined by a full set of one-minute daily values. If data from the GOES spacecraft supplying this information is temporarily halted, this value will be calculated from those daily one-minute values which are received. It is therefore possible, (although extremely unlikely) that this average value may be produced from only one or two one-minute flux measurements. It is important to distinguish the difference between the background x-ray flux and the average x-ray flux. The average x-ray flux is the actual numerical average of all daily x-ray bursts (including all x-ray flares). The background x-ray flux is the lowest stable x-ray level observed during the day which is not associated with x-ray bursts. The x-ray average will therefore almost always be higher than the background x-ray flux. In this example, the average x-ray flux is a fair bit higher than the background level, possibly due to a number of x-ray bursts which occurred during the UT day. LINE 06 ------- NEUTN-MAX= +003% @ 2250UT NEUTN-MIN= -002% @ 1700UT NEUTN-AVG= +0.5% NEUTN-MAX= +003% @ 2250UT This is the maximum observed neutron monitor count as observed by the Thule neutron monitor. It indicates a maximum observed value of 3% which occurred at 22:50 UT. Significant maximums of greater than 10% may be related to Ground Level Events (GLEs) which are associated with near- relativistic particle bombardments from major solar flares. These neutron monitor values are determined by examining the 5-minute averages of the neutron monitor count rates. NEUTN-MIN= -002% @ 1700 UT This is the observed minimum neutron monitor count as measured by the Thule neutron monitor. Values below -5% may be related to Forbush decreases (FDs) which are most often associated with strong geomagnetic disturbances. NEUTN-AVG= +0.5%: This value represents the average neutron monitor count as observed by the Thule neutron monitor. Average values below -5.0% are associated with Forbush decreases. LINE 07 ------- PCA-MAX= +0.7DB @ 1425UT PCA-MIN= -0.2DB @ 2325UT PCA-AVG= -0.1DB PCA-MAX= +0.7DB @ 1425UT This section shows the maximum Polar Cap Absorption (PCA) level observed during the UT day by the Thule T30A Riometer. Positive values indicate elevated levels of ionospheric absorption over the polar regions. As a result, positive values (particularly in excess of about 1.0 to 2.0 dB) are sufficient to cause notable attenuation of HF signals over or near the polar regions. Values larger than 3.0 to 4.0 dB may cause heavy to complete absorption of HF radio signals over the polar and possibly some high latitude signal paths. Riometer values less than or equal to 0.0 dB are associated with negligable absorption levels over the polar regions. Note that small levels of absorption (of only a few tenths of a dB) may be sufficient to cause errors in navigational signals such as OMEGA navigational signals traversing the polar regions. PCA-MIN= -0.2DB @ 2325UT This is the minimum PCA level observed during the UT day. PCA-AVG= -0.1DB : This is the average PCA level observed during the UT day and is calculated by averaging the 5-minute averaged riometer measurements during the UT day. LINE 08 ------- BOUTF-MAX=55331NT @ 2250UT BOUTF-MIN=55263NT @ 1649UT BOUTF-AVG=55301NT BOUTF-MAX=55331NT @ 2250UT This is the maximum observed value of the Total magnetic Field (TF). The total field value is calculated by using all three orthogonal components of the geomagnetic field. These values are valid for Boulder, Colorado. The field values are in units of nanotesla (NT). The time of the maximum is also indicated. BOUTF-MIN=55263NT @ 1649UT This is the minimum observed value of the total field at Boulder, Colorado. BOUTF-AVG=55301NT This is the daily average of the total magnetic field strength as observed at Boulder for the UT day. LINES 09 & 10 ------------- GOES7-MAX=E:+113NT@ 0607UT GOES7-MIN=N:-052NT@ 0911UT G7-AVG=+067,+063,+002 GOES6-MAX=P:+101NT@ 1925UT GOES6-MIN=N:-010NT@ 1439UT G6-AVG=+073,+026,+014 These two lines report the maximum, minimum and observed average values of the geomagnetic field at geosynchronous altitudes as observed by the GOES-6 and GOES-7 spacecraft. GOES-7 is the primary spacecraft and is therefore reported first. The first capital letter following the "GOES7-MAX=" statement indicates which component of the magnetic field experienced the maximum value observed during the UT day. There are three possible letters which may be used here, representing one of the three possible magnetic components: P = The component parallel to the Earths rotation axis. Positive values are northward. Negative values are southward. E = This is the Earthward component. Positive values represent a downwardly directed field (ex. toward the Earth or Earthward). N = This component is perpendicular to the other two. Positive values represent a westwardly directed field. Negative values are eastward. The figure following the "P:", "E:", or "N:" is the observed magnitude of that component, followed by the time that the value was observed. In this example, the GOES-7 spacecraft Earthward magnetic component was the observed maximum component during the UT day. The magnitude of this maximum Earthward component was +113 nanoteslas. This represents a downwardly directed magnetic field with a strength of 113 nT. GOES-7 observed this max at 06:07 UT. This same format is followed for the minimum values observed on GOES-7 as well as for the values on GOES-6. G7-AVG=+067,+063,+002 This line reports the average geomagnetic field strengths for the three magnetic components of the GOES-7 spacecraft. The first value will ALWAYS represent the Parallel magnetic component. The second value will ALWAYS represent the Earthward magnetic component. And the last value will ALWAYS represent the Perpendicular component. So in this example, the average daily magnetic field strength for the parallel component was +67 nT. The Earthward component had an average field strength value of +63 nT while the perpendicular component had an average value of +2 nT. This same format is followed for the average values of the GOES-6 secondary spacecraft. LINE 11 ------- FLUXFCST=STD:160,157,155 ; SESC:160,155,150 BAI/PAI-FCST=15,10,10 / 15,15,18 FLUXFCST=STD:160,157,155 ; SESC:160,155,150 The first three values represent the 72-hour forecast 10.7 cm solar radio flux values as produced by the Solar Terrestrial Dispatch (STD). The second group of three values are the 72-hour 10.7 cm solar radio flux forecast values as issued by the Space Environment Services Center. If either of these two forecasts are unavailable, "N/A" will be used in place of the digits. BAI/PAI-FCST=15,10,10 / 15,15,18 The first group of three values represent the 72-hour forecast Boulder A-Index (BAI) values as issued by the Space Environment Services Center. The second group of three digits represent the 72-hour forecast Planetary A-Index values (PAI) as issued by the United States Air Force (USAF) Global Weather Central. LINE 12 ------- KFCST=3344 5433 2334 4211 28DAY-AP=019,011 28DAY-KP=2333 4333 2233 2322 KFCST=3344 5433 2334 4211 These digits represent the 48-hour K-index fourcasts as released by the Space Environment Services Center. The first value represents the forecast K-index value for 00:00 to 02:59 UT. The second value represents the forecast K- index value from 03:00 UT to 05:59 UT, etc. The sixteen digits define the expected K-indices for the next 48 hours. 28DAY-AP=019,011: These values are the historical estimated planetary A-index values that were observed 28 days ago (approximately one solar rotation). The first value represents the observed estimated planetary A-index value 28 days ago. The second value represents the value observed 27 days ago. These two values may help serve as a guide to the possible intensity of recurrent geomagnetic phenomena. 28DAY-KP=2333 4333 2233 2322 These digits are the estimated planetary K-index values that were observed 28 days ago. The first group of eight digits (2333 4333) represent the three-hourly planetary K-indices that were observed 28 days ago. The second group of eight digits (2233 2322) represent the K-index values that were observed 27 days ago. LINE 13, 14... -------------- WARNINGS=*MAJFLR;*PROTON ALERTS=**MAJFLR:X1.1/2B,N20E29(6857),0523-0555-0641,II=2@0551,IV=3@0602; **MINFLR:M4.4@0111;**MINFLR:M2.3@0528;**MINFLR:M1.6@1209; **TENFLR:2200,DUR:N/A These lines summarize the Warnings and Alerts which are active at the end of the UT day. Each warning category is prepended with a SINGLE asterisk. Each alert category is prepended with DOUBLE asterisks. The end of each warning and alert is appended with a semicolon if more warnings follow. If no warnings follow, a carriage return concludes the category. Warnings and alerts may span several lines. These WARNINGS are valid: *MAJFLR = Potential Major Flare Warning *PROTON = Potential Satellite Proton Event Warning *PROTFLR = Potential Proton Flare Warning *GSTRM = Potential Geomagnetic Storm Warning *MSTRM = Potential Minor Geomagnetic Storm *JSTRM = Potential Major-Severe Geomagnetic Storm *AURMIDWCH= Middle Latitude Auroral Activity WATCH *AURMIDWRN= Middle Latitude Auroral Activity WARNING *AURLOWWCH= Low Latitude Auroral Activity WATCH *AURLOWWRN= Low Latitude Auroral Activity WARNING *PCA = Potential Polar Cap Absorption Event Warning The following ALERTS are valid: **MAJFLR = Major Solar Flare Alert **MINFLR = Minor Solar Flare Alert **MINSTRM = Minor Geomagnetic Storm Alert **MAJSTRM = Major Geomagnetic Storm Alert **SVRSTRM = Severe Geomagnetic Storm Alert **PCA = Polar Cap Absorption Event Alert **PCAENH = Polar Cap Absorption Enhancement Alert **PROTN10 = Satellite Proton Event Alert at > 10 MeV **PROTN100= Satellite Proton Event Alert at > 100 MeV **PROTNENH= Satellite Proton Enhancment Alert at > 10 MeV **MAGSI = Magnetic Sudden Impulse Alert **245STRM = 245 MHz Radio Noise Storm Alert **TENFLR = Tenflare Alert **SWEEP = Sweep Frequency Event Alert **FORBUSH = Forbush Decrease Event Alert Each of the alerts may be followed by a colon and very terse descriptive text describing parameters of the event. For example, the alert section within this example reads: ALERTS=**MAJFLR:X1.1/2B,N20E29(6857),0523-0555-0641,II=2@0551,IV=3@0602; **MINFLR:M4.4@0111;**MINFLR:M2.3@0528;**MINFLR:M1.6@1209; **TENFLR:2200,DUR:N/A This line consists of FIVE alerts (each set of double asterisks denotes the start of a new alert): One major flare alert, three Minor Solar Flare alerts and a Tenflare alert. In this example, the major flare was a class X1.1/2B event located at N20E29 within Region 6857. It began at 05:23 UT, peaked at 05:55 UT and ended at 06:41 UT and was associated with a Type II sweep (importance 2) at 05:51 UT and a Type IV sweep (importance 3) at 06:02 UT. If a tenflare would have been associated with this event, it would have been treated as a separate alert with a time corresponding to the time of the major flare. In this ficticious example, no tenflare was observed. The first minor solar flare was a class M4.4 which occurred at 01:11 UT. The second was a class M2.3 at 05:28 UT. The third was a class M1.6 at 12:09 UT and the Tenflare was observed at 22:00 UT. The DURation of the tenflare was unknown (not available) at the time the report was compiled. Notice that the last alert is not followed by a semicolon. This marks the end of the alert section. LAST LINE --------- !!END-DATA!! : The last line of the daily report will ALWAYS contain this final statement, which signifies the end of the data set. FINAL NOTES ----------- Additional warnings and alerts may be added to those mentioned here. The format of this data set may also change over time. Data may be added or deleted from the existing data set. However, for the most part, the structure will remain the same. Comments may be appended to the message following the dataset (ex. following the !!END-DATA!! marker), although this will not be a common practice. The length of the daily data set should be approximately 15-16 lines, but may vary slightly depending on the number of warnings and alerts that are active during each day. This is the same data set that is sent to other organizations and institutions for research or professional purposes. Individuals or organizations with a need to directly receive this data through email should send requests for placement on the mailing list to: Oler@Hg.Uleth.CA, or to: COler@Solar.Stanford.Edu. Only those with a professional need, or those who receive the data too late to be of value, are encouraged to request direct access to the mailing list. There may be infrequent days when no data sets are broadcast. This may be due to local computer problems, or perhaps possible problems with sites forwarding the data sets through the nets. In most circumstances, the data sets should arrive daily. They are usually released once a day, sometime after approximately 02:00 to 03:00 UT. This time lag into the new UT day is required so that all of the data associated with the previous UT day may be collected and processed for inclusion with the daily data set. ** End of Daily Solar Geophysical Broadcast Description **