Autoscaled Ionospheric Data Format
List of station ID, station name, ionosonde type with autoscaled data:
- br, bri5d Brisbane, IPS 5D
- cy, cascd Casey, CADI
- cb, cbr5d Canberra, IPS 5D
- cb, cbr5f Canberra, IPS 5F
- co, cck5d Cocos Islands, IPS 5D
- co, cck5f Cocos Islands, IPS 5F
- cn, cdn5d Camden, IPS 5D
- cn, cdn5f Camden, IPS 5F
- dv, davis Davis, Lowell
- dw, dwn5d Darwin, IPS 5D
- hb, hbt5d Hobart, IPS 5D
- hb, hbt5f Hobart, IPS 5F
- lm, lea5d Learmonth, IPS 5D
- lm, lea5f Learmonth, IPS 5F
- mq, maccd Macquarie Island, CADI
- mw, mawcd Mawson, CADI
- nf, nlk5d Norfolk Island, IPS 5D
- nu, nue5d Niue, IPS 5D
- nu, nue5f Niue, IPS 5F
- pe, per5d Perth, IPS 5D
- sc, sct4d Scott Base, IPS 4D
- tv, tvl5d Townsville, IPS 5D
- tv, tvl5f Townsville, IPS 5F
- tv, tvl6a Townsville, IPS 6A
Sonde Type Code:
IPS 4d: dIPS 5d: h
IPS 5f: n
IPS 6a: o
CADI: i
Lowell Digisonde: j (used at Davis)
The autoscaled, partly validated hourly data and standard SAO formats:
1) Automatically scaled data files in the files "YYMMDD.scl" viewable online have format:
YYMMDDHHMM fmin foE h'E foEs fbEs h'Es foF1 h'F foF2 foI h'F2 M3000 MUF(3000)F2
1804302355 175/S000//092//058//057//093//000//000//066//066//289//346//227//
There is no Es Type or range and frequency spread values in the automatically scaled data.
Automatically scaled data files are also available in the ASWFC data server, stored as {station}/auto/{year}/SSIaYYYYMM.zip. Here SS=station ID, I=sonde type code, a=auto, YYYY=year, MM=month of the year. File names in each zip file have format YYYYDOYa.SSI. Here YYYY=year, DOY=day of the year, a=auto and SS=station ID, I=sonde type.
The line order is as processed and may be multiples or disorder if ionograms have been reprocessed.
2) Partly validated data format:
Some hourly values have been manually checked. The partly validated data files have format:
YYMMDDHHmm^VVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQDVVVQD with the parameter order:
42 (fmin), 20 (foE), 24 (h'E), 36 (Es type), 30 (foEs), 32 (fbEs), 34 (h'Es), 10 (foF1), 16 (h'F), 00 (foF2), 50 (foI), 04 (h'F2), 03 (M(3000)F2), 55 (RS), 56 (FS), 07 (MUF).
The validated data may have a "C" or "V" appended to each line record. The "V" means that a value has been manually checked using an ionogram scaling/viewer tool. The validated data files will contain both autoscaled data (indicated by "C") and validated data (indicated by "V"). The autoscaled data is separated by "/", which is blanked " " to show that value has been manually validated. The two slash "/" are for qualifier and descriptive letters as described in UAG23A publication and as briefly explained below. Here ASWFC uses the codes 55 and 56 for scaling range spread (RS)(55) and frequency spread (FS)(56).
Automatically scaled and partly validated data files are available in the ASWFC data server, stored as {station}/valid/{year}/SSIvYYYYMM.zip. Here SS=station ID, I=sonde type code, v=valid, YYYY=year, MM=month of the year. File names in each zip file have format YYYYDOYv.SSI. Here YYYY=year, DOY=day of the year, v=valid and SS=station ID, I=sonde type.
Please note, "auto" data and "valid" data has a little difference in parameter sequences.
3) Standard Archiving Output (SAO) format:
ASWFC also produces standard SAO format automatically scaled ionospheric data and they are downloadable under each station folder from the ASWFC data server, ASWFC data server. To understand the SAO format data, please read the file, SAO version 4.3.
Summary of ASWFC ionosonde stations
| ASWFC station number | Station name | Latitude | Longitude | Local mean time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3038 | Manila | 14.70 | 121.10 | |
| 3546 | Vanimo | -2.70 | 141.30 | 150 |
| 3750 | Port Moresby | -9.40 | 147.10 | 150 |
| 2451 | Cocos Islands | -12.20 | 96.80 | 90 |
| 3351 | Darwin | -12.45 | 130.95 | 135 |
| 4755 | Niue | -19.07 | 190.07 | |
| 3755 | Townsville | -19.63 | 146.85 | 150 |
| 3355 | Tennant Ck | -19.65 | 134.25 | 135 |
| 2856 | Learmonth | -22.25 | 114.08 | 120 |
| 3357 | Alice Springs | -23.81 | 133.90 | 135 |
| 3859 | Brisbane | -27.53 | 152.92 | 150 |
| 4260 | Norfolk Is | -29.03 | 167.97 | 180 |
| 2960 | Watheroo | -30.30 | 115.90 | 120 |
| 3460 | Woomera | -30.80 | 136.30 | 135 |
| 2962 | Perth | -31.94 | 115.95 | 120 |
| 2961 | Mundaring | -31.98 | 116.22 | 120 |
| 3862 | Camden | -34.05 | 150.67 | 150 |
| 3562 | Salisbury | -34.70 | 138.60 | 135 |
| 3763 | Canberra | -35.32 | 149.00 | 150 |
| 3766 | Hobart | -42.92 | 147.32 | 150 |
| 4072 | Macquarie Is | -54.50 | 158.95 | 150 |
| 2878 | Casey | -66.30 | 110.50 | 105 |
| 1679 | Mawson | -67.60 | 62.88 | 60 |
| 1979 | Davis | -68.58 | 77.96 | 75 |
The URSI parameter codes are defined as follows
| Code | Parameter | Units | Ref. UAG23 | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | foF2 | 0.1 MHz | 1.11 | Ordinary wave critical frequency of the highest stratification in the F region |
| 01 | fxF2 | 0.1 MHz | 1.11 | Extraordinary wave critical frequency |
| 02 | fzF2 | 0.1 MHz | 1.11 | Z-mode wave critical frequency |
| 03 | M(3000)F2 | 0.01 | 1.50 | Maximum usable frequency at a defined distance divided by the critical frequency of that layer |
| 04 | h'F2 | km | 1.33 | Minimum virtual height of the ordinary wave trace for the highest stable stratification in the F region |
| 05 | hpF2 | km | 1.41 | Virtual height of the ordinary wave mode at the frequency given by 0.834 of foF2 (or other 7.34) |
| 06 | h'Ox | km | 1.39 | Virtual height of the x trace at foF2 |
| 07 | MUF(3000)F2 | 0.1 MHz | 1.5C | Standard transmission curve for 3000 km |
| 08 | hc | km | 1.42 | Height of the maximum obtained by fitting a theoretical h'F curve for the parabola of best fit to the observed ordinary wave trace near foF2 and correcting for underlying ionisation |
| 09 | qc | km | 7.34 | Scale height |
| 10 | foF1 | 0.1 MHz | 1.13 | Ordinary wave F1 critical frequency |
| 11 | fxF1 | 0.1 MHz | 1.13 | Extraordinary wave F1 critical frequency |
| 12 | not used | |||
| 13 | M(3000)F1 | 0.01 | 1.50 | Maximum usable frequency at a defined distance divided by the critical frequency of that layer |
| 14 | h'F1 | km | 1.30 | Minimum virtual height of reflection at a point where the trace is horizontal |
| 15 | not used | |||
| 16 | h'F | km | 1.32 | Minimum virtual height of the ordinary wave trace taken as a whole |
| 17 | MUF(3000)F1 | 0.1 MHz | 1.5C | Standard transmission curve for 3000 km |
| 18 | not used | |||
| 19 | not used | |||
| 20 | foE | 0.01 MHz | 1.14 | Ordinary wave critical frequency of the lowest thick layer which causes a discontinuity |
| 21 | not used | |||
| 22 | foE2 | 0.01 MHz | 1.16 | Critical frequency of an occulting thick layer which sometimes appears between the normal E and F1 layers |
| 23 | not used | |||
| 24 | h'E | km | 1.34 | Minimum virtual height of the normal E layer |
| 25 | not used | |||
| 26 | h'E2 | km | 1.36 | Minimum virtual height of the E2 layer |
| 27 | not used | |||
| 28 | not used | |||
| 29 | not used | |||
| 30 | foEs | 0.1 MHz | 1.17 | Highest ordinary wave frequency at which a mainly continuous Es trace is observed |
| 31 | fxEs | 0.1 MHz | 1.17 | Highest extraordinary wave frequency at which a mainly continuous Es trace is observed |
| 32 | fbEs | 0.1 MHz | 1.18 | Blanketing frequency of the Es layer |
| 33 | ftEs | 0.1 MHz | Top frequency Es any mode | |
| 34 | h'Es | km | 1.35 | Minimum height of the trace used to give foEs |
| 35 | not used | |||
| 36 | type Es | 7.26 | Characterisation of the shape of the Es trace W type sporadic E was used at the Australian stations between about February and April 1982 in place of H, C, L and F types. | |
| 37 | not used | |||
| 38 | not used | |||
| 39 | not used | |||
| 40 | foF1.5 | 0.01 MHz | 1.12 | Ordinary wave critical frequency of the intermediate stratification between F1 and F2 |
| 41 | not used | |||
| 42 | fmin | 0.1 MHz | 1.19 | Lowest frequency at which echo traces are observed on the ionogram. Unit is 0.01MHz for ASWFC auto/valid scaled .scl file. |
| 43 | M(3000)F1.5 | 0.01 | 1.50 | Maximum usable frequency at a defined distance divided by the critical frequency of that layer |
| 44 | h'F1.5 | km | 1.38 | Minimum virtual height of the ordinary wave trace between foF1 and foF1.5 (equals h'F2 7.34) |
| 45 | not used | |||
| 46 | not used | |||
| 47 | fm2 | 0.1 MHz | 1.14 | Minimum frequency of the second order trace |
| 48 | hm | km | 7.34 | Height of the maximum density of the F2 layer calculated by the Titheridge method |
| 49 | fm3 | 0.1 MHz | 1.25 | Minimum frequency of the third order trace |
| 50 | foI | 0.1 MHz | 1.26 | Top ordinary wave frequency of spread F traces |
| 51 | fxI | 0.1 MHz | 1.21 | Top frequency of spread F traces |
| 52 | fmI | 0.1 MHz | 1.23 | Lowest frequency of spread F traces |
| 53 | M3000I | 0.01 | 1.50 | Maximum usable frequency at a defined distance divided by the critical frequency of that layer |
| 54 | h'I | km | 1.37 | Minimum slant range of the spread F traces |
| 55 | not used | (see note below) | ||
| 56 | not used | (see note below) | ||
| 57 | dfs | 0.1 MHz | 1.22 | Frequency spread of the scatter pattern; 7.34 Frequency range of spread fxI-foF2 |
| 58 | not used | |||
| 59 | not used | |||
| 60 | fh'F2 | 0.1 MHz | 7.34 | Frequency at which h'F2 is measured |
| 61 | fh'F | 0.1 MHz | 7.34 | Frequency at which h'F is measured |
| 62 | not used | |||
| 63 | h'mF1 | km | 7.34 | Maximum virtual height in the o-mode F1 cusp |
| 64 | h1 | km | 7.34 | True height at f1 Titheridge method |
| 65 | h2 | km | 7.34 | True height at f2 Titheridge method |
| 66 | h3 | km | 7.34 | True height at f3 Titheridge method |
| 67 | h4 | km | 7.34 | True height at f4 Titheridge method |
| 68 | h5 | km | 7.34 | True height at f5 Titheridge method |
| 69 | H | km | 7.34 | Effective scale height at hmF2 Titheridge method |
| 70 | I2000 | e/cubic cm | 7.34 | Ionospheric electron content Faraday technique |
| 71 | I | e/cubic cm | 7.34 | Total electron content to geostationary satellite |
| 72 | Ixxxx | e/cubic cm | 7.34 | Ionospheric electron content to height xxxx |
| 73 | not used | |||
| 74 | not used | |||
| 75 | not used | |||
| 76 | not used | |||
| 77 | not used | |||
| 78 | not used | |||
| 79 | T | e/cubic cm | 7.34 | Total sub-peak content Titheridge method |
| 80 | FMINF | 0.01 MHz | Minimum frequency of F trace (50 kHz increments) | |
| 81 | FMINE | 0.01 MHz | Minimum frequency of E trace (50 kHz increments). Equals fbEs when E present | |
| 82 | HOM | km | Parabolic E region peak height | |
| 83 | YM | km | Parabolic E region semi-thickness | |
| 84 | QF | km | Average range spread of F trace | |
| 85 | QE | km | Average range spread of E trace | |
| 86 | FF | 0.01 MHz | Frequency spread between fxF2 and fxI | |
| 87 | FE | 0.01 MHz | As FF but considered beyond foE | |
| 88 | fMUF3000 | 0.01 MHz | MUF(D)/obliquity factor | |
| 89 | h'MUF3000 | km | Virtual height at fMUF |
Note: ASWFC uses the codes 55 and 56 for scaling range spread (RS)(55) and frequency spread (FS)(56).
Qualifying Letters:
- A - Less than. Used only when fbEs is deduced from foEs because total blanketing of higher layers is present
- D - Greater than
- E - Less than
- I - Missing value has been replaced by an interpolated value
- J - Ordinary component characteristic deduced from the extraordinary component
- M - Interpretation of measurement questionable because ordinary and extraordinary components are not distinguishable. Used with descriptive letter which shows why components are not distinguishable
- O - Extraordinary component characteristic deduced from the ordinary component
- T - Value determined by a sequence of observations, the actual observation being inconsistent or doubtful
- U - Uncertain or doubtful numerical value
- Z - Measurement deduced from the third magneto-electronic component
Descriptive Letters:
- A - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, the presence of a lower thin layer, for example, ES
- B - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, absorption in the vicinity of fmin
- C - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, any non-ionospheric reason
- D - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, the upper limit of the normal frequency range
- E - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, the lower limit of the normal frequency range
- F - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, the presence of spread echoes
- G - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because the ionisation density of the reflecting layer is too small to enable it to be made accurately
- H - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, the presence of stratification
- K - Presence of a particle E layer
- L - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because the trace has no sufficiently definite cusp between the layers
- M - Interpretation of measurement questionable because ordinary and extraordinary components are not distinguishable. Used when interpretation is doubtful and a qualifying letter needed for other reasons (e.g., U, D, E)
- N - Conditions are such that the measurement cannot be interpreted.
- O - Measurement refers to the ordinary component
- P - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, the presence of polar spurs
- Q - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, the presence of range spread
- R - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, attenuation in the vicinity of the critical frequency
- S - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because of, interference or atmospherics
- T - Value determined by a sequence of observations, the actual value or observation being inconsistent or doubtful
- V - Forked trace, which may influence the measurement
- W - Measurement influenced by, or impossible because the echo lies outside the height range recorded
- X - Measurement refers to the extraordinary component
- Y - Lacuna phenomena, severe layer tilt
- Z - Third magneto-electronic component present
