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JHU/APL Global Birkeland Currents Data Product System |
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This page provides science community access to view and retrieve data products from
the Point-Mosaic Auroral Imaging project. Point-Mosaic Auroral Imaging is a JHU/APL
research project sponsored by the National Science Foundation under the National Space
Weather Program to derive scientific information from the Iridium satellite system
engineering magnetometer data. These data are relevant for study and monitoring of
Earth’s auroral magnetic field aligned currents also called Birkeland currents.
The auroral Birkeland currents are the primary means of energy transport between Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere. The Iridium system is the first opportunity to continuously monitor this global scale current system by specifying its location, distribution, and intensity. The Iridium engineering magnetometers detect the signatures of these currents thus presenting an opportunity to advance not only our understanding of how this enormous current system behaves but also to monitor the dynamics of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. The data products made available here were developed at JHU/APL under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation and are publicly released with the approval of Iridium Satellite LLC. These materials are key parameters to be used for non-commercial purposes only. They are appropriate for survey, event identification, and preliminary science investigations only. As presented here they are not appropriate for use in presentations or publications. Because there are some noise artifacts in the data products, investigators are strongly advised to contact Dr. B. J. Anderson prior to conducting detailed science investigations using these data. Analysis for field aligned current distributions can be conducted on a case by case basis in collaboration with Dr. B. J. Anderson but because quantitative measures of the error and reliability of the results are still under development, these products are not yet produced for public access. Acknowledgement of JHU/APL and Dr. B. J. Anderson are required if information in these products is used in scientific research. |
| Direct Questions to: Dr. Brian Anderson |
