Data Description

This page summarizes information about the selected resource and its origin based on SPASE metadata.

Table of Contents

  1. Product
  2. Repositories
  3. Instruments
  4. Observatory
  5. Persons

SPASE version 2.0.1

Numerical Data Product: ACE MAG SWEPAM 1-min field and plasma data at bow shock nose

Resource ID
spase://VHO/NumericalData/ACE/Propagated/PT1M Get XML
Name
ACE MAG SWEPAM 1-min field and plasma data at bow shock nose
Alternate name
ACE at BSN
Description

Solar wind magnetic field and plasma data at 1-min resolution created from ACE data shifted to the Earth's bow shock nose (BSN).

Additional information
Readme at nssdcftp
Acknowledgement

We acknowledge N.Ness and C. Smith of the MAG team, D. McComas and R. Skoug of the SWEPAM team and J. King and N. Papitashvili of NASA/SPDF and ADNET who created this product.

Contact
Role Person
1. Data producer Dr. Joseph H. King Get XML
2. Data producer Dr. Natalia E. Papitashvili Get XML
Release date
2009-08-01 00:00:00
Repository #1
Name
SPDF Get XML
Availability
Online
Access rights
Open
URL
OMNIWeb

OMNIWeb, 1-min ACE

Format
Text
Encoding
None
Repository #2
Name
SPDF Get XML
Availability
Online
Access rights
Open
URL
nssdcftp

FTP path at SPDF/NSSDC

Format
Text
Encoding
None
File size
129 MB per 1 year
Provider resource name
ACE MAG SWEPAM Data at BSN
Instruments
ACE Magnetic Field Instrument Get XML
Solar Wind Electron, Proton and Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) Get XML
Measurement type
Magnetic field
Thermal plasma
Temporal description
Start date
1998-02-05 00:00:00
Relative stop date
3 months ago
Cadence
1 minute
Observed regions
Heliosphere.NearEarth
↑

Parameters

Parameter #1

Name
Magnetic field vector, GSE
Description

Magnetic field vector, GSE

Cadence
1 minute
Units
nT
Coordinate system
Cartesian GSE
Structure
Size
3
Description

Magnetic field vector, GSE

Elements
Index Name Parameter key Units
1 Bx(GSE) Column13 nT
2 By(GSE) Column14 nT
3 Bz(GSE) Column15 nT
Quantity
Magnetic field
Qualifier
Component
Average

Parameter #2

Name
Magnetic field vector, GSM
Description

Magnetic field vector, GSM

Cadence
1 minute
Units
nT
Coordinate system
Cartesian GSM
Structure
Size
3
Description

Magnetic field vector, GSM

Elements
Index Name Parameter key Units
1 Bx(GSM) Column13 nT
2 By(GSM) Column16 nT
3 Bz(GSM) Column17 nT
Quantity
Magnetic field
Qualifier
Component
Average

Parameter #3

Name
Magnetic field magnitude
Parameter key
Column12
Description

Magnetic field magnitude

Cadence
1 minute
Units
nT
Quantity
Magnetic field
Qualifier
Magnitude
Average

Parameter #4

Name
Magnetic field vector standard deviation
Parameter key
Column21
Description

Square root of sum of variances of component averages.

Cadence
1 minute
Units
nT
Quantity
Magnetic field
Qualifier
Variance
Component

Parameter #5

Name
Magnetic field magnitude standard deviation
Parameter key
Column20
Description

Standard deviation in the average of magnetic field magnitudes

Cadence
1 minute
Units
nT
Quantity
Magnetic field
Qualifier
Variance
Magnitude

Parameter #6

Name
Flow speed
Parameter key
Column23
Description

Flow speed of the solar wind

Cadence
1 minute
Units
km/s
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Velocity
Qualifier
Magnitude

Parameter #7

Name
Flow velocity vector
Description

Flow velocity vector, 3 GSE cartesian components

Cadence
1 minute
Units
km/s
Coordinate system
Cartesian GSE
Structure
Size
3
Description

Flow velocity vector, GSE

Elements
Index Name Parameter key Units
1 Vx(GSE) Column24 km/s
2 Vy(GSE) Column25 km/s
3 Vz(GSE) Column26 km/s
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Velocity
Qualifier
Vector

Parameter #8

Name
Proton density
Parameter key
Column27
Description

Proton density

Cadence
1 minute
Units
no./cc
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Number density

Parameter #9

Name
Proton temperature
Parameter key
Column28
Description

Proton scalar temperature

Cadence
1 minute
Units
deg K
Particle type
Proton
Quantity
Temperature

Parameter #10

Name
Spacecraft position
Description

Position of ACE spacecraft, GSE cartesian components

Cadence
1 minute
Units
Re
Coordinate system
Cartesian GSE
Structure
Size
3
Description

Spacecraft position vector, GSE

Elements
Index Name Parameter key Units
1 X(ACE,GSE) Column29 Re
2 Y(ACE,GSE) Column30 Re
3 Z(ACE,GSE) Column31 Re
Parameter type
Positional

Parameter #11

Name
Bow shock nose position
Description

Bow shock nose position, as computed from observed data and models, 3 cartesian components

Cadence
1 minute
Units
Re
Coordinate system
Cartesian GSE
Structure
Size
3
Description

Bow shock nose (BSN) position vector, GSE

Elements
Index Name Parameter key Units
1 X(BSN,GSE) Column32 Re
2 Y(BSN,GSE) Column33 Re
3 Z(BSN,GSE) Column34 Re
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #12

Name
Mean time shift
Parameter key
Column08
Description

Time shift from observation time to bow shock nose (BSN) arrival time, as averaged over all 15-16 sec B values with BSN arrival times in minute of interest

Cadence
1 minute
Units
sec
Parameter type
Other

Parameter #13

Name
Numbers of points in field and plasma averages
Description

Numbers of fine scale points in field and plasma averages

Cadence
1 minute
Structure
Size
2
Description

Numbers of fine scale points in field and plasma averages

Elements
Index Name Parameter key
1 Numbers of fine scale points in field averages Column05
2 Numbers of fine scale points in plasma averages Column22
Parameter type
Other
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Instrument: ACE Magnetic Field Instrument

Instrument ID
spase://SMWG/Instrument/ACE/MAG Get XML
Name
ACE Magnetic Field Instrument
Alternate name
ACE Magnetometer
ACE MAG
ACE MFI
1997-045A-09
Description

The ACE Magnetometer (MAG) experiment consists of two triaxial fluxgate magnetometers mounted remotely on booms extending beyond the spacecraft solar panels at four meters from the spacecraft center. Each identical sensor (M1, M2) has a wide dynamic range of sensitivity at +- 0.004 to +- 65536 nT and measures the three vector components of the magnetic field. Usage of twin magnetometer sensors for measurements of weak interplanetary magnetic fields is a proven approach based on experience from many past space missions. The MAG sensors were originally built as spares for the MFI instrument on the WIND spacecraft and have been given minor modifications for inclusion on ACE. Readout of MAG data includes three data types: (1) average magnetic field vectors from the primary and secondary sensors, (2) "Snap-Shot Memory" data, and (3) Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) data. The average vector readout includes 216 bps corresponding to six vectors per second. These vector readouts can be split between M1 and M2 in the ratios of 3:3, 5:1, or 6:0. The "Snap-Shot Memory" stores field vectors at the maximum sampling rate of 30 vectors per second and is read out at 48 bps. The FFT readout includes 17 seconds accumulation of vector data transformed into spectral matrices of the components and total magnitude at a transmission rate of 32 bps. Prof. Norman F. Ness of the Bartol Research Institute at the University of Delaware is the MAG Experiment Manager.

Additional information
Instrument description

Description of the ACE magnetometer design and instrument characteristics, with links to data and other documentation

NSSDC's Master Catalog

Information about the Magnetometer (MAG) experiment on the ACE mission.

Contact
Role Person
1. CoInvestigator Dr. Norman F. Ness Get XML
2. Technical contact Dr Charles W. Smith Get XML
Release date
2009-05-20 21:10:13
Prior ID
spase://SMWG/instrument/1997-045A-09
Instrument type
Magnetometer
Investigation name
Magnetometer (MAG) on ACE
Observatory
ACE Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Instrument: Solar Wind Electron, Proton and Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM)

Instrument ID
spase://SMWG/Instrument/ACE/SWEPAM Get XML
Name
Solar Wind Electron, Proton and Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM)
Alternate name
SWEPAM
Description

The Solar Wind Electron, Proton, and Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) instrument sensors measure solar wind electrons at 1 - 900 eV energy and ions at 0.26 - 35 keV. The instrument consists of separate electron and ion analyzers originally built as spares for the Ulysses mission. The two sensors both utilizes curved-plate electrostatic analyzers (ESAs) consisting of spherical sections cut into sectors. Biased channel electron multipliers (CEMS) are spaced along the exit apertures of the ESAs for ion and electron detection. Different CEMs sample different portions of the fan-shaped fields of view. The ion sensor consists of a 105-degree bending angle ESA with an average radius of 100 mm and a plate spacing of 2.84 mm. Sixteen CEMs contiguously spaced along the exit gap of the ESA give about 5-degree polar angular resolution over the approximately 70-degree opening angle of the acceptance fan. The electron sensor consists of a 120-degree bending angle ESA with an average radius of 41.9 mm and a plate spacing of 3.5 mm. Seven large-funnel CEMs along the exit gap give about 20-degree angular resolution over a 160-degree fan angle. The sensor geometric factors are 0.002 cm2-sr for isotropic response and 0.009 cm2 for unidirectional. Energy resolution is five percent for ions and twelve percent for electrons. SWEPAM data consists of ion and electron rates collected at each energy/charge (E/Q) step, polar lock direction, and azimuthal spin direction. A single spacecraft spin period of 12 seconds is sufficient for accumulation of count matricies to fully calculate the electron and ion distribution functions from which bulk moments (solar wind speed, density, temperature) can be calculated by ground data processing. Accumulated counts will actually be summed over one-minute intervals for increased statistical accuracy and for reduction of telemetry requirements. Limited data from single spins will be provided for timing of the passage of transient solar wind structures.

Additional information
SWEPAM home page at LANL

Information about the SWEPAM instrument, with links to data and other documentation

NSSDC's Master Catalog

Information about the Solar Wind Electron, Proton and Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) experiment on the ACE mission.

Contact
Role Person
1. CoInvestigator Dr. David J. McComas Get XML
2. Technical contact Ruth Skoug Get XML
Release date
2009-05-20 21:10:13
Prior ID
spase://SMWG/instrument/1997-045A-07
Instrument type
Electrostatic Analyser
Investigation name
Solar Wind Electron, Proton and Alpha Monitor (SWEPAM) on ACE
Observatory
ACE Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Observatory: ACE

Observatory ID
spase://SMWG/Observatory/ACE Get XML
Name
ACE
Alternate name
Advanced Composition Explorer
1997-045A
Explorer 71
Description

The objective of the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) is to collect observations of particles of solar, interplanetary, interstellar, and galactic origins, spanning the energy range from that of KeV solar wind ions to galactic cosmic ray nuclei up to 600 MeV/nucleon. Definitive studies will be made of the abundances of essentially all isotopes from H to Zn (Z = 1-30), with exploratory isotope studies extending to Zr (Z = 40). The ACE payload includes six high resolution spectrometers, each designed to provide the optimum charge, mass, or charge-state resolution in its particular energy range. Each spectrometer has a geometry factor optimized for the expected flux levels, so as to provide a collecting power greater by a factor of 10-1000 times that of previous or planned experiments. The payload also includes three additional instruments of standard design to monitor energetic electrons, H and He ions, and a magnetometer. The ACE spacecraft is based on the design of the Charge Composition Explorer, built at JHU/APL for the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorer (AMPTE) program. The spacecraft spin axis is pointed towards the Sun to within +/- 20 degrees, and it occupies a halo orbit about the L1 Earth-Sun libration point. Powered by solar cells, the spacecraft has a design life of at least five years, and it returns data in daily tape recorder dumps, received through NASA JPL's Deep Space Network and initially processed at NASA-GSFC. The average data telemetry rate is 6.7 Kbs.

Additional information
ACE Home Page

ACE mission home page at Caltech with data download

NSSDC's Master Catalog

Information about the ACE mission

Contact
Role Person
1. Principal investigator Prof. Edward C. Stone, Jr. Get XML
Release date
2009-05-20 20:00:12
Prior ID
spase://vspo/observatory/2
Location
Region
Heliosphere.Inner
Heliosphere.NearEarth
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. Joseph H. King

Name
Dr. Joseph H. King
Organization
GSFC-Code 560
Email
jking@mail630.gsfc.nasa.gov
Phone
+1-301-867-0084
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Joseph.H.King Get XML
Release date
2003-08-06 00:00:00
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. Natalia E. Papitashvili

Name
Dr. Natalia E. Papitashvili
Organization
GSFC-Code 612.4
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Natalia.E.Papitashvili Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Ms. Tamara J. Kovalick

Name
Ms. Tamara J. Kovalick
Organization
GSFC-Code 672
Email
Tamara.J.Kovalick@nasa.gov
Phone
+1-301-286-9422
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Tamara.J.Kovalick Get XML
Release date
2008-03-19 00:00:00
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Mr. Robert M. Candey

Name
Mr. Robert M. Candey
Organization
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Address
Code 672, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Email
robert.m.candey@nasa.gov
Phone
1-301-286-6707
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Robert.M.Candey Get XML
Release date
2007-05-30 19:43:56
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. Robert E. McGuire

Name
Dr. Robert E. McGuire
Organization
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Address
Code 672, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
Email
mcguire@mail630.gsfc.nasa.gov
Phone
1-301-286-7794
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Robert.E.McGuire Get XML
Release date
2007-05-30 15:25:24
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. Norman F. Ness

Name
Dr. Norman F. Ness
Organization
University of Delaware
Email
nfness@bartol.udel.edu
Phone
+1-302-831-8116
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Norman.F.Ness Get XML
Release date
2000-07-31 00:00:00
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr Charles W. Smith

Name
Dr Charles W. Smith
Organization
University of New Hampshire
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Charles.W.Smith Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Dr. David J. McComas

Name
Dr. David J. McComas
Organization
Southwest Research Institute
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/David.J.McComas Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Ruth Skoug

Name
Ruth Skoug
Organization
LANL
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Ruth.Skoug Get XML
↑

SPASE version 2.0.0

Person: Prof. Edward C. Stone, Jr.

Name
Prof. Edward C. Stone, Jr.
Organization
California Institute of Technology
Email
ecs@srl.caltech.edu
Phone
+1-626-395-8321
Person ID
spase://SMWG/Person/Edward.C.Stone.Jr Get XML
Release date
2001-04-02 00:00:00
↑

SPASE version 1.3.0

Repository: SPDF

Repository ID
spase://SMWG/Repository/NASA/GSFC/SPDF Get XML
Name
SPDF
Description

Space Physics Data Facility

Additional information
SPDF

Space Physics Data Facility

Contact
Role Person
1. General contact Ms. Tamara J. Kovalick Get XML
2. Technical contact Mr. Robert M. Candey Get XML
3. Project scientist Dr. Robert E. McGuire Get XML
Release date
2008-08-26 21:02:30
Prior IDs
spase://vspo/repository/61
spase://SMWG/Repository/SPDF
↑