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Geomagnetic Indices

There are several indices that are used as indicators of magnetic activity. Most of these are available through NGDC or NSSDC. The following is a list of the more common indices and where they reside.

aa
Average of K indices (converted to nT) for two Antipodal observatories. Additional 3-hourly values can be obtained through NGDC at their anonymous FTP site:
ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/RELATED_INDICES/AA_INDEX
Available: 3-hourly 1868 - 1986 (units: nT)
CD: NGDC001
Files: geomag3/indices/aa

AE
Measure of Auroral Electrojet current based on range of H disturbance for auroral zone observatories. Additional hourly and one-minute values can be obtained through NGDC at their anonymous FTP site: ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/GEOMAGNETIC_DATA/INDICES/AURORAL_ELECTROJET
Available: hourly 1957 - 1983 (units: nT)
CD: NGDC001
Files: geomag3/indices/ae

An/As/Am
Average of K indices (converted to nT) for groups of observatories in the northern and southern hemispheres. Additional 3-hourly values can be obtained through NGDC at their anonymous FTP site:
ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/RELATED_INDICES/AA_INDEX
Available: 3-hourly 1959 - 1982 (units: nT)
CD: NGDC001
Files: geomag3/indices/amns

ap
Equivalent Amplitude index of Kp values (converted to nT). Additional 3-hourly values can be obtained through NGDC at their anonymous FTP site:
ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/GEOMAGNETIC_DATA/INDICES/KP_AP
Available: 3-hourly 1932 - 1997.1 (units: 2 nT)
CD: NGDC001,MODELS001
Files: geomag3/indices/kp
indices/kpap

Ap
Average of the 8 ap values. Additional 3-hourly values can be obtained through NGDC at their anonymous FTP site: ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/GEOMAGNETIC_DATA/INDICES/KP_AP
Available: daily 1932 - 1997.1 (units: 2 nT)
CD: NGDC001,MODELS001
Files: geomag3/indices/kp
indices/kpap

Dst
Disturbance Storm Time is a measure of the ring current determined from low-latitude observatories. Additional hourly values can be obtained through NGDC at their anonymous FTP site:
ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/GEOMAGNETIC_DATA/INDICES/DST
Available: hourly 1957 - 1993 (units: nT)
CD: MODELS001
Files: indices/dst57

F10.7
Ottawa 10.7 cm solar radio flux. Additional daily values can be obtained through NGDC at their anonymous FTP site: ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/SOLAR_RADIO/FLUX
Available: daily, monthly, yearly 1947 - 1989 (units: 10E-22 Joules/second/meter squared/Hertz)
CD: NGDC001, MODELS001
Files: solar/radio/ottawa
indices/avgf107

Kp
Average of K indices (range of H components) of global sub-auroral zone observatories. Kp range: [0o, 0+, 1-, ... 9-, 9o]. Additional 3-hourly values can be obtained through NGDC at their anonymous FTP site: ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/GEOMAGNETIC_DATA/INDICES/KP_AP
Available: 3-hourly 1932 - 1997.1
CD: NGDC001,MODELS001
Files: geomag3/indices/kp
indices/kpap

Kn/Ks/Km
Average of K indices for groups of observatories in the northern and southern hemispheres. Additional 3-hourly values can be obtained through NGDC at their anonymous FTP site:
ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/RELATED_INDICES/AA_INDEX
Available: 3-hourly 1959 - 1982
CD: NGDC001
Files: geomag3/indices/kmns

ssn
Sun Spot Number is a measure of the area of solar surface covered by spots. Additional daily, monthly, and yearly values can be obtained through NGDC at their anonymous FTP site:
ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/SUNSPOT_NUMBERS
Available: daily, monthly, yearly 1610 - 1995
CD: NGDC001,MODELS001
Files: solar/sunspot
indices/ssn

tilt
Dipole Tilt Angle is the angle between the dipole axis and the Earth-sun line. Any value can be computed with the program tilt2.f
Available: hourly 1960 - 1989 (units: degrees)
CD: MODELS001
Files: indices/tilt



next up previous contents
Next: Detailed Descriptions Up: Data Descriptions Previous: Models



Joy Conrad
Thu Mar 13 13:58:49 EST 1997