Spectrograph: Culgoora Radiospectrograph Observation Logs Format

For each period of observation, three parameters are recorded. These are:

• Date
• Observing period start time
• Observing period end time

For each observed event several parameters are recorded, as follows. (Elements shown in square brackets are optional.)

• Event state time [qualifier]
• Event end time [qualifier]
• Spectral type [Appended symbol(s)]
• Intensity
• Lower frequency [qualifier]
• Upper frequency [qualifier]
• [Remarks]

Times are reported to the nearest minute UTC.

Time qualifiers are included when appropriate:

• E - Burst in progress before this time (start times only)
• U - Uncertain time
• D - Burst in progress after this time (end times only)

Spectral types are:

• I, II, III, IV, V
• CONT - Other continuum
• UNCLF - Unclassified activity

Appended symbols expand on the spectral type. The appropriate spectral types are indicated. Multiple symbols are separated by commas. Those in the second list (to the right) are uncommon.

One of the following symbols is used to describe all type II emissions:

• FN - Fundamental emission
• SH - Second harmonic emission
• UE - Uncertain emission

Frequencies are recorded to two significant digits in MHz.

Frequency qualifiers are included when appropriate:

• X - Extends beyond instrument range
• U - Uncertain frequency

Remarks are included where appropriate. They may be plain text and/or any of the following:

• SWF - Associated shortwave fadeout observed
• ESS n - Estimated shock speed in km/s (where n is the estimated speed)
• FLA c - Associated flare observed (where estimated flare class c is optional)

The radiospectrograph log files are plain text, laid out in a standard machine readable format used in Solar-Geophysical Data (to which our data are contributed). The format is as follows:

Further reading:

Solar-Geophsycal Data, sgd.ngdc.noaa.gov

Solar Radiophysics, Edited by McLean & Labrum, Cambridge University Press (1985)