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Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. HDPWS Data Access FTPS from SPDF (not with most browsers) HTTPS from SPDF CDAWeb WebService: CDAWeb Programmatic Data Access HAPI: CDAWeb HAPI Server DMSP F16 Special Sensors-Ions, Electrons, and Scintillation (SSIES) Thermal Plasma Analysis Package, Level 2 (L2), 1 s Data in CDF Format var authors='Hairston, Marc, R.; Coley, William, R.; Heelis, Roderick, A.; Hanson, William, B.'; document.write(authors); (2024). DMSP F16 Special Sensors-Ions, Electrons, and Scintillation (SSIES) Thermal Plasma Analysis Package, Level 2 (L2), 1 s Data in CDF Format. [Data set]. Space Physics Data Facility. https://doi.org/10.48322/hcdm-vz96. Accessed on document.write(currentDateStr);. Note: Proper references, including Copy BibTeX Citation or other formats, should include the "Accessed on date" to identify the version of the resource being cited in a given publication. ResourceID spase://NASA/NumericalData/DMSP_5D-3/F16/SESS/SSIES-3/ThermalPlasma/CDF/PT1S Description The Special Sensors-Ions, Electrons, and Scintillation (SSIES) thermal plasma analysis package is a suite of instruments built by the Center for Space Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas and flown on a number of the DMSP satellites. SSIESS includes a Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA), Ion Drift meter (IDM), scintillation meter, and Langmuir probe. Metadata Rights CC0-1.0: Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal Note CC0 1.0 Universal is the Creative Commons license applicable to all publicly available SPASE metadata descriptions. The actual data/software may be subject to a different license. View XML | Edit Details Version:2.7.1 NumericalData ResourceID spase://NASA/NumericalData/DMSP_5D-3/F16/SESS/SSIES-3/ThermalPlasma/CDF/PT1S NamingAuthority NASA ResourceType NumericalData ResourceHeader ResourceName DMSP F16 Special Sensors-Ions, Electrons, and Scintillation (SSIES) Thermal Plasma Analysis Package, Level 2 (L2), 1 s Data in CDF Format DOI https://doi.org/10.48322/hcdm-vz96 ReleaseDate 2026-06-26 13:16:47Z RevisionHistory RevisionEvent ReleaseDate 2024-05-03 00:00:00.00Z Note Metadata created by ADAPT code (LFB), final editing and DOI minting by AK RevisionEvent ReleaseDate 2025-10-02 15:11:49Z Note Updated PublishedBy name to match ROR Registry. Added ResourceType and NamingAuthority. Changed http to https in top-level schemaLocation attribute. Fixed version number separator in top-level schemaLocation attribute. Matched version number in schemaLocation attribute to updated value in Version tag. ZCB RevisionEvent ReleaseDate 2025-12-04 13:29:09Z Note Added MetadataRightsList and RightsList(s). Updated to 2.7.1. ZCB RevisionEvent ReleaseDate 2026-06-26 13:16:47Z Note Add 'Z' to RevisionEvent:ReleaseDate(s), PublicationDate, TemporalDescription:TimeSpan:StartDate. ZCB Description The Special Sensors-Ions, Electrons, and Scintillation (SSIES) thermal plasma analysis package is a suite of instruments built by the Center for Space Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas and flown on a number of the DMSP satellites. SSIESS includes a Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA), Ion Drift meter (IDM), scintillation meter, and Langmuir probe. Acknowledgement We gratefully acknowledge the University of Texas Dallas, Center for Space Sciences and the US Air Force for providing the DMSP thermal plasma data PublicationInfo Authors Hairston, Marc, R.; Coley, William, R.; Heelis, Roderick, A.; Hanson, William, B. PublicationDate 2024-01-01 00:00:00Z PublishedBy Space Physics Data Facility Contacts Role Person StartDate StopDate Note 1. PrincipalInvestigatorProjectScientistInstrumentScientistTechnicalContactGeneralContact spase://SMWG/Person/Marc.R.Hairston 2. ProjectScientistInstrumentScientistTechnicalContact spase://SMWG/Person/William.R.Coley 3. FormerPIInstrumentScientistInstrumentLeadProjectManager spase://SMWG/Person/Roderick.A.Heelis 4. FormerPI spase://SMWG/Person/William.B.Hanson 5. MetadataContact spase://SMWG/Person/Robert.M.Candey 6. MetadataContact spase://SMWG/Person/Andriy.Koval InformationURL Name DMSP SSIES-3 QUALITY FLAG Document URL https://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/data/dmsp/documents/ssies/SSIES-3_qualityflags_Sept2019.pdf InformationURL Name DMSP SSIES-3 Documentation URL https://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/data/dmsp/documents/ssies/ InformationURL Name Original HDF files URL https://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/data/dmsp/dmspf16/ssies/ssies-3rl/thermal-plasma-hdf/ Description HDF files used to convert to CDF files at SPDF InformationURL Name Thermal Plasma Plots URL https://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/data/dmsp/dmspf16/ssies/ssies-3rl/thermal-plasma-plots/ Description Single orbit plots of plasma data AccessInformation RepositoryID spase://SMWG/Repository/NASA/GSFC/SPDF Availability Online AccessRights Open RightsList Rights SchemeURI https://spdx.org/licenses/ RightsIdentifierScheme SPDX RightsIdentifier CC0-1.0 RightsURI https://spdx.org/licenses/CC0-1.0.html RightsName Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal Note CC0 1.0 Universal is the Creative Commons license applicable to all publicly available NASA Heliophysics data products AccessURL Name FTPS from SPDF (not with most browsers) URL ftps://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/data/dmsp/dmspf16/ssies/ssies-3rl/thermal-plasma-cdf/ Description Access to Data in CDF Format via ftps from SPDF AccessURL Name HTTPS from SPDF URL https://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/data/dmsp/dmspf16/ssies/ssies-3rl/thermal-plasma-cdf/ Description Access to Data in CDF Format via https from SPDF AccessURL Name CDAWeb URL https://cdaweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eval2.cgi?dataset=DMSP-F16_SSIES-3_THERMAL-PLASMA&index=sp_phys ProductKey DMSP-F16_SSIES-3_THERMAL-PLASMA Description Access to ASCII, CDF, and Plots via NASA/GSFC CDAWeb Format CDF Encoding None AccessDirectoryTemplate https://cdaweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/data/dmsp/dmspf16/ssies/ssies-3rl/thermal-plasma-cdf/$Y AccessFilenameTemplate dmsp-f16_ssies-3_thermal-plasma_$Y$m$d$H$M_$v.cdf Acknowledgement We gratefully acknowledge the University of Texas Dallas, Center for Space Sciences and the US Air Force for providing the DMSP thermal plasma data AccessInformation RepositoryID spase://SMWG/Repository/NASA/GSFC/SPDF Availability Online AccessRights Open AccessURL Name CDAWeb Programmatic Data Access URL https://cdaweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/WS/cdasr/1/dataviews/sp_phys/datasets/DMSP-F16_SSIES-3_THERMAL-PLASMA/clientLibraryExample/ Style WebService ProductKey DMSP-F16_SSIES-3_THERMAL-PLASMA Description Access to this data from common programming environments. Note: this AccessInformation element was added by HDPWS. Format Binary Acknowledgement We gratefully acknowledge the University of Texas Dallas, Center for Space Sciences and the US Air Force for providing the DMSP thermal plasma data AccessInformation RepositoryID spase://SMWG/Repository/NASA/GSFC/SPDF Availability Online AccessRights Open RightsList Rights SchemeURI https://spdx.org/licenses/ RightsIdentifierScheme SPDX RightsIdentifier CC0-1.0 RightsURI https://spdx.org/licenses/CC0-1.0.html RightsName Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal Note CC0 1.0 Universal is the Creative Commons license applicable to all publicly available NASA Heliophysics data products AccessURL Name CDAWeb HAPI Server URL https://cdaweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/hapi Style HAPI ProductKey DMSP-F16_SSIES-3_THERMAL-PLASMA Description Web Service to this product using the HAPI interface. Format CSV ProcessingLevel Calibrated InstrumentIDs spase://SMWG/Instrument/DMSP_5D-3/F16/SESS/SSI/ES-3 MeasurementType ThermalPlasma MeasurementType IonComposition TemporalDescription TimeSpan StartDate 2006-01-01 00:48:39Z RelativeStopDate -P3M Cadence PT1S ObservedRegion Earth.Magnetosphere ObservedRegion Earth.Magnetosphere.Polar ObservedRegion Earth.NearSurface ObservedRegion Earth.NearSurface.AuroralRegion ObservedRegion Earth.NearSurface.EquatorialRegion ObservedRegion Earth.NearSurface.Ionosphere ObservedRegion Earth.NearSurface.PolarCap Parameter #1 Name Epoch ParameterKey Epoch Description Default time Caveats This Parameter exhibits an increasing Monotonic Progression RenderingHints AxisLabel Epoch ScaleType LinearScale ValidMin 01-Jan-1990 00:00:00.000 ValidMax 31-Dec-2029 23:59:59.999 FillValue 31-Dec-9999 23:59:59.999 Support SupportQuantity Temporal Parameter #2 Name vx Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey vx Description Vx - median filtered and smoothed ion flow in the ram direction Caveats median filtered and smoothed ion flow in the ram direction from the fits to the RPA curve Cadence PT1S Units m/s RenderingHints AxisLabel vx ValueFormat F8.0 ValidMin -2000.0 ValidMax 2000.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Component.I Qualifier Median ParticleQuantity FlowVelocity Parameter #3 Name quality flag for Vx data Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey vxqual Description "Vx quality flag:1,6-good;2,7-fair;else warn [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-good 2-fair 3-caution 4-bad 5-uncertain Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel quality flag for Vx data ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 5 Support Qualifier Component.I SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #4 Name vx rms Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey vxrms Description Vx root mean square of the RPA fit Caveats root mean square of the fit to the RPA curve giving an indication of the quality of the RPA data for this sweep Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel vx rms ValueFormat F10.2 ScaleMin 0.0 ScaleMax 99.0 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 999.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Component.I Qualifier Fit Qualifier StandardDeviation ParticleQuantity FlowVelocity Parameter #5 Name Vx flow Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey vxraw Description Vx - original unfiltered Vx flow Caveats the unfiltered Vx flow values calculated by the RPA fitting routine Cadence PT1S Units m/s RenderingHints AxisLabel Vx flow ValueFormat F8.0 ValidMin -2000.0 ValidMax 2000.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Component.I ParticleQuantity FlowVelocity Parameter #6 Name vy Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey vy Description Vy - ion flow in the horizontal crosstrack direction Caveats crosstrack horizontal ion flow from IDM, positive is in the sunward direction regardless of the orientation of the orbit, data taken in two modes: normal and slow (see nmbpts) Cadence PT1S Units m/s RenderingHints AxisLabel vy ValueFormat F8.0 ValidMin -2000.0 ValidMax 2000.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Component.J ParticleQuantity FlowVelocity Parameter #7 Name quality flag for Vy data Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey vyqual Description "Quality flag for Vy data:1,6-good;2,7-fair;else warn [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-good 2-fair 3-caution 4-bad 5-uncertain 6-good (F17) 7-fair (F17) 8-caution (F17) 9-caution (sun glint or high-energy particles) Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel quality flag for Vy data ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 9 Support Qualifier Component.J SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #8 Name vy rms Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey vyrms Description Standard deviation of the Vy flow Caveats standard deviation of the six Vy samples taken per second in the normal mode, fill data in slow mode Cadence PT1S Units m/s RenderingHints AxisLabel vy rms ValueFormat F10.2 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 2800.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Component.J Qualifier StandardDeviation ParticleQuantity FlowVelocity Parameter #9 Name roughness Vy Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey dmhrough Description Roughness parameter of Vy Caveats roughness parameter of Vy defined as (delta Vy / averaged Vy) Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel roughness Vy ValueFormat F11.3 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 1.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Component.J Qualifier Ratio ParticleQuantity FlowVelocity Parameter #10 Name vz Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey vz Description Vz - ion flow in the vertical crosstrack direction Caveats crosstrack vertical ion flow from IDM, positive is in the upward direction, data taken in two modes: normal and slow (see nmbpts) Cadence PT1S Units m/s RenderingHints AxisLabel vz ValueFormat F8.0 ValidMin -2000.0 ValidMax 2000.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Component.K ParticleQuantity FlowVelocity Parameter #11 Name quality flag for Vz data Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey vzqual Description "Quality flag for Vz data:1,6-good;2,7-fair;else warn [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-good 2-fair 3-caution 4-bad 5-uncertain 6-good (F17) 7-fair (F17) 8-caution (F17) 9-caution (sun glint or high-energy particles) Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel quality flag for Vz data ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 9 Support Qualifier Component.K SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #12 Name stdev vz rms Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey vzrms Description Standard deviation of the Vz flow Caveats standard deviation of the six Vz samples taken per second in the normal mode, fill data in slow mode Cadence PT1S Units m/s RenderingHints AxisLabel stdev vz rms ValueFormat F10.2 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 2800.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Component.K Qualifier StandardDeviation ParticleQuantity FlowVelocity Parameter #13 Name roughness Vz Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey dmvrough Description Roughness parameter of Vz (delta Vz / averaged Vz) Caveats roughness parameter of Vy defined as (delta Vy / averaged Vy) Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel roughness Vz ValueFormat F11.3 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 1.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Component.K Qualifier Ratio ParticleQuantity FlowVelocity Parameter #14 Name ion temperature Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey temp Description Ion temperature Caveats temperature of the ions in the plasma calculated from the fit to the RPA curve Cadence PT1S Units °K RenderingHints AxisLabel ion temperature ValueFormat F8.0 ScaleMin 500.0 ScaleMax 5000.0 ValidMin 500.0 ValidMax 20000.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion ParticleQuantity Temperature Parameter #15 Name Quality flag for the ion temperature Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey tempqual Description "Quality flag for the ion temperature:1,6-good;2,7-fair;else warn [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-good 2-fair 3-caution 4-bad 5-uncertain Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel Quality flag for the ion temperature ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 5 Support SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #16 Name electron temperature Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey te Description Electron temperature Caveats the electron temperature based on an onboard calculation of the Langmuir probe sweep which occurs once every 4 s Cadence PT1S Units °K RenderingHints AxisLabel electron temperature ValueFormat F8.0 ValidMin 500.0 ValidMax 10000.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Electron ParticleQuantity Temperature Parameter #17 Name ion density Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey dens Description Ni calculated from the RPA Caveats Ion density of the plasma calculated from the fit to the RPA curve Cadence PT1S Units cm^-3 UnitsConversion 1.0e6>m^-3 RenderingHints AxisLabel ion density ValueFormat F8.0 ScaleMin 200.0 ScaleMax 1.0e+08 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 1.0e+08 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion ParticleQuantity NumberDensity Parameter #18 Name density quality flag Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey densqual Description "Quality flag for the ion density:1,6-good;2,7-fair;else warn [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-good 2-fair 3-caution 4-bad 5-uncertain Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel density quality flag ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 5 Support SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #19 Name ion density scint meter Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey ductdens Description Ni from scintillation meter Caveats the average of the 24 Hz samples of the ion density by the scintillation meter, because of its large aperture this is considered the best meaure of the ion density Cadence PT1S Units cm^-3 UnitsConversion 1.0e6>m^-3 RenderingHints AxisLabel ion density scint meter ValueFormat F8.0 ScaleMin 200.0 ScaleMax 1.0e+08 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 1.0e+08 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion ParticleQuantity NumberDensity Parameter #20 Name roughness SM den Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey ductdensrough Description Roughness parameter of SM density Caveats roughness parameter of scintillation meter ion density defined as (delta Ni/ averaged Ni) Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel roughness SM den ValueFormat F11.3 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 1.0 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Ratio ParticleQuantity NumberDensity Parameter #21 Name ion density RPA 0 volts Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey dens0v Description Ni measured from the RPA at 0 volts Caveats during each RPA sweep there is a point where the repeller voltage is 0 V so all the ions reach the collector, this is the ion density based on that measurement Cadence PT1S Units cm^-3 UnitsConversion 1.0e6>m^-3 RenderingHints AxisLabel ion density RPA 0 volts ValueFormat F8.0 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 1.0e+08 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion ParticleQuantity NumberDensity Parameter #22 Name ion density IDM Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey dmdens Description Ni from the IDM Caveats the ion density based on the collector current in the IDM, because some or all of the light ions are excluded this density should always be equal to or less than the other ion densities Cadence PT1S Units cm^-3 UnitsConversion 1.0e6>m^-3 RenderingHints AxisLabel ion density IDM ValueFormat F8.0 ScaleMin 200.0 ScaleMax 1.0e+08 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 1.0e+08 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion ParticleQuantity NumberDensity Parameter #23 Name frac H+ ions in plasma Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey frach Description Fractional amount of H+ ions in plasma Caveats fractional amount of the plasma that is H+ based on the fitting of the RPA curve, because of uncertainties the value can exceed 1.0; disregard > 1.05 and negative Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel frac H+ ions in plasma ValueFormat F10.2 ScaleMin 0.0 ScaleMax 1.05 ValidMin -0.1 ValidMax 1.05 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Proton Qualifier Ratio ParticleQuantity NumberDensity AtomicNumber 1 Parameter #24 Name frac H+ quality flag Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey frachqual Description "Quality flag for fractional H+:1,6-good;2,7-fair;else warn [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-good 2-fair 3-caution 4-bad 5-uncertain Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel flag H+ quality flag ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 5 Support SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #25 Name frac He+ ions in plasma Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey frache Description Fractional amount of He+ ions in plasma Caveats fractional amount of the plasma that is He+ based on the fitting of the RPA curve, because of uncertainties the value can exceed 1.0; disregard > 1.05 and negative Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel frac He+ ions in plasma ValueFormat F10.2 ScaleMin 0.0 ScaleMax 1.05 ValidMin -0.1 ValidMax 1.05 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Ratio ParticleQuantity NumberDensity Parameter #26 Name frac He+ quality flag Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey frachequal Description "Quality flag for fractional He+:1,6-good;2,7-fair;else warn [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-good 2-fair 3-caution 4-bad 5-uncertain Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel flag He+ quality flag ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 5 Support SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #27 Name frac O+ ions in plasma Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey fraco Description Fractional amount of O+ ions in plasma Caveats fractional amount of the plasma that is O+ based on the fitting of the RPA curve, because of uncertainties the value can exceed 1.0; disregard > 1.05 and negative Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel frac O+ ions in plasma ValueFormat F10.2 ScaleMin 0.0 ScaleMax 1.05 ValidMin -0.1 ValidMax 1.05 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Ion Qualifier Ratio ParticleQuantity NumberDensity Parameter #28 Name frac O+ quality flag Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey fracoqual Description "Quality flag for fractional O+:1,6-good;2,7-fair;else warn [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-good 2-fair 3-caution 4-bad 5-uncertain Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel flag O+ quality flag ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 5 Support SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #29 Name high energy particles Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey ebm Description Electron background monitor - high energy particle currents detected by the RPA Caveats once every 2 s the RPA repeller voltage is set so high that only high energy electrons or ions reach the collector. A large current indicates high-energy particles or photo-electron production (a sun-glint). Cadence PT1S Units A RenderingHints AxisLabel high energy particles ValueFormat F11.3 ValidMin -2.0e+09 ValidMax 2.0e+09 FillValue -999999.0 Particle ParticleType Electron ParticleType Ion ParticleQuantity Current Parameter #30 Name quality flag for RPA data Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey corrpaqual Description "Overall quality flag for RPA data:1,6-good;2,7-fair;else warn [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-good 2-fair 3-caution 4-bad 5-uncertain Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel quality flag for RPA data ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 5 Support SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #31 Name quality flag for RPA data Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey rpainfo Description "Flag for RPA sweep direction:retarding potential: 1-increasing,2-decreasing [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-retarding potential increasing 2-retarding potential decreasing Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel quality flag for RPA data ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 2 Support SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #32 Name geographic latitude Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey glat Description Geographical latitude Caveats geographic latitude of s/c Cadence PT1S Units ° CoordinateSystem CoordinateRepresentation Spherical CoordinateSystemName GEO RenderingHints DisplayType TimeSeries AxisLabel geographic latitude ValueFormat F6.2 ValidMin -90.0 ValidMax 90.0 Support Qualifier DirectionAngle.ElevationAngle SupportQuantity Positional Parameter #33 Name geographic longitude Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey glon Description Geographic east longitude Caveats geographic east longitude of s/c Cadence PT1S Units ° CoordinateSystem CoordinateRepresentation Spherical CoordinateSystemName GEO RenderingHints DisplayType TimeSeries AxisLabel geographic longitude ValueFormat F7.2 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 359.99 Support Qualifier DirectionAngle.AzimuthAngle SupportQuantity Positional Parameter #34 Name magnetic latitude Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey mlat Description "Magnetic latitude, mapped to 120 km" Caveats magnetic latitude of field line at s/c mapped to 120 km Cadence PT1S Units ° CoordinateSystem CoordinateRepresentation Spherical CoordinateSystemName MAG RenderingHints DisplayType TimeSeries AxisLabel magnetic latitude ValueFormat F6.2 ValidMin -90.0 ValidMax 90.0 Support Qualifier DirectionAngle.ElevationAngle SupportQuantity Positional Parameter #35 Name magnetic local time Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey mlt Description "Magnetic local time, mapped to 120 km" Caveats magnetic local time of field line at s/c mapped to 120 km Cadence PT1S Units hr UnitsConversion 60>s CoordinateSystem CoordinateRepresentation Spherical CoordinateSystemName MAG RenderingHints DisplayType TimeSeries AxisLabel magnetic local time ValueFormat F6.2 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 23.99 Support Qualifier DirectionAngle.AzimuthAngle SupportQuantity Positional Parameter #36 Name solar zenith angle Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey sza Description Solar zenith angle Caveats angle between the sun-earth line and the s/c-center of earth line Cadence PT1S Units ° RenderingHints DisplayType TimeSeries AxisLabel solar zenith angle ValueFormat F7.2 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 180.0 Support SupportQuantity Positional Parameter #37 Name altitude Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey alt Description Altitude Caveats altitude of the s/c above earth’s surface Cadence PT1S Units km UnitsConversion 1.0e3>m RenderingHints DisplayType TimeSeries AxisLabel altitude ValueFormat F7.2 ValidMin 820.0 ValidMax 870.0 Support SupportQuantity Positional Parameter #38 Name #pts vy-vz Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey nmbot Description "Number of data points in the Vy - Vz average:1-slow mode,6-normal mode" Caveats the IDM operates in two modes: normal mode takes six horizontal and six vertical samples per second, slow mode is for low density conditions where only one sample is taken each second and alternates between directions Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel #pts vy-vz ValueFormat F8.0 ValidMin 1.0 ValidMax 10.0 FillValue -999999.0 Support SupportQuantity Other Parameter #39 Name overall quality flag for the IDM data Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey idmqual Description "Overall quality flag for the IDM data:1,6-good;2,7-fair;else warn [READ QUALITY FLAG Document]" Caveats 1-good 2-fair 3-caution 4-bad 5-uncertain 6-good (F17) 7-fair (F17) 8-caution (F17) 9-caution (sun glint or high-energy particles) Cadence PT1S RenderingHints AxisLabel overall quality flag for the IDM data ValueFormat I2 ValidMin 1 ValidMax 9 Support SupportQuantity DataQuality Parameter #40 Name spacecraft velocity Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey scvel Description Spacecraft velocity Caveats orbital velocity of the spacecraft Cadence PT1S Units km/s UnitsConversion 1.0e3>m/s RenderingHints AxisLabel spacecraft velocity ValueFormat F9.1 ValidMin -7400.0 ValidMax 7500.0 FillValue -999999.0 Support Qualifier Magnitude SupportQuantity Velocity Parameter #41 Name rpaground Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey rpaground Description Potential difference between SSIES instruments and spacecraft ground Caveats the DMSP spacecraft charges negative relative to the plasma ground so SSIES is electrically insolated and driven positive relative to spacecraft ground to keep the instrument near the plasma ground Cadence PT1S Units °K RenderingHints AxisLabel rpaground ValueFormat F8.0 ValidMin 500.0 ValidMax 10000.0 FillValue -999999.0 Field FieldQuantity Electric Parameter #42 Name potential Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey pot Description Potential of the SSIES instruments relative to the plasma ground Caveats all the SSIES instruments are held near the plasma ground potential, nominally about -1 V relative to the plasma, this value is calculated from the RPA curve fit, shown as \“SC Potential\” on the plots Cadence PT1S Units V RenderingHints AxisLabel potential ValueFormat F10.2 ScaleMin -2.0 ScaleMax 1.0 ValidMin -3.0 ValidMax 2.0 FillValue -999999.0 Field FieldQuantity Electric Parameter #43 Name bx Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey bx Description North component of Earths magnetic field (IGRF) Caveats northward component of the Earths magnetic field at the spacecrafts location calculated by the IGRF model Cadence PT1S Units nT UnitsConversion 1.0e-9>T RenderingHints AxisLabel bx ValueFormat F9.1 ValidMin -5000.0 ValidMax 5000.0 FillValue -999999.0 Field Qualifier Component.I FieldQuantity Magnetic Parameter #44 Name by Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey by Description East component of Earths magnetic field (IGRF) Caveats eastward component of the Earths magnetic field at the spacecrafts location calculated by the IGRF model Cadence PT1S Units nT UnitsConversion 1.0e-9>T RenderingHints AxisLabel by ValueFormat F9.1 ValidMin -5000.0 ValidMax 5000.0 FillValue -999999.0 Field Qualifier Component.J FieldQuantity Magnetic Parameter #45 Name bz Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey bz Description Vertical downward component of Earths magnetic field (IGRF) Caveats vertical downward component of the Earths magnetic field at the spacecrafts location calculated by the IGRF model Cadence PT1S Units nT UnitsConversion 1.0e-9>T RenderingHints AxisLabel bz ValueFormat F9.1 ValidMin -5000.0 ValidMax 5000.0 FillValue -999999.0 Field Qualifier Component.K FieldQuantity Magnetic Parameter #46 Name corotation vel ram Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey corvelx Description Corotation velocity of ionosphere in the ram direction Caveats the ram component (x) of the corotation speed of the ionosphere at the spacecrafts location Cadence PT1S Units m/s RenderingHints AxisLabel corotation vel ram ValueFormat F9.1 ValidMin -100.0 ValidMax 0.0 FillValue -999999.0 Support Qualifier Component.I SupportQuantity Velocity Parameter #47 Name corotation vel crosstrack Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey corvely Description Corotation velocity of ionosphere in the horizontal crosstrack direction Caveats the crosstrack horizontal component (y) of the corotation speed of the ionosphere at the spacecrafts location Cadence PT1S Units m/s RenderingHints AxisLabel corotation vel crosstrack ValueFormat F9.1 ValidMin -600.0 ValidMax 600.0 FillValue -999999.0 Support Qualifier Component.J SupportQuantity Velocity Parameter #48 Name corotation vel vertical Set Time series defined by using: Epoch ParameterKey corvelz Description Corotation velocity of ionosphere in the vertical direction Caveats the crosstrack vertical component (z) of the corotation speed of the ionosphere at the spacecrafts location, since DMSP is in a circular orbit, this value is zero Cadence PT1S Units m/s RenderingHints AxisLabel corotation vel vertical ValueFormat F9.1 ValidMin 0.0 ValidMax 1.0 FillValue -999999.0 Support Qualifier Component.K SupportQuantity Velocity Contact SPDF: NASA-SPDF Feedback/Support Responsible NASA Official: Lan Jian Site Editor: Rita Johnson SPDF ROR ID SPDF re3data ID About NASA Accessibility FOIA No FEAR Act Privacy Policy Vulnerability Disclosure Policy Last Updated: 2026-06-26