Name: Evan Thomas
Institution: Dartmouth College
Preferred contact method (e.g., email): evan.g.thomas@dartmouth.edu
Purpose of Standardization
A novel production method, that produces a new format where it would benefit
the SuperDARN community to be aware of the definition of the fields in the
format and how to use the format in their own research should they choose
The newly proposed snd-format file contains a reduced set of radar operating parameters and fitted values (e.g., velocity,
power, spectral width, phi0) in datamap (dmap) format. This file type is designed to be produced on-site by a ROS-style radar operating a control program which collects frequency sounding data (e.g., interleavesound). Frequency sounding data collected by radars which have a dedicated sounding channel (e.g., Stereo or Mabel) may instead be converted from the standard rawacf-format files first to fitacf and then snd using the make_fit and make_snd binaries respectively (see below).
Production Method
The snd-format file is designed as a lightweight file type for on-site production and transfer from radar sites, while still containing sufficient metadata and data for comprehensive scientific analysis. The information contained in the snd-format file is, at a minimum, sufficient for determination of both maximum usable frequency (MUF) and critical frequency (foF2). These data could also be suitable for ingestion in other assimilative ionospheric applications.
-snd command line options have been added to the time_plot and field_plot RST routines for simple visualization of the sounding data.
Access to Production Method
The snd software is publicly available and currently under review as a pull request to the Radar Software Toolkit (RST). If approved, the snd libraries and binaries will be distributed to end users as part of the overall RST package. QNX4 and QNX6-compatible software for the ROS is also available on the interleavesound branch of the SuperDARN control_programs repository.
Requirements of Data Format
The standard SuperDARN datamap (dmap) format has been chosen for the snd file type for easier compatibility with existing ROS and RST software. A list of the fields in the snd-format file can be found in the SndWrite C code, and a description of the fields can be found in the RST-compatible XML documentation (which will eventually be built as an HTML page once the pull request is approved).
Read and write routines are available in both C and IDL (with DLM support available as well).
Method of Integration with Existing Formats
snd-format files are produced on-site by ROS-style radars operating the new interleavesound control program, or they may be generated via post-processing from a fitacf-format file using the make_snd binary in the RST. There have not yet been any decisions on how widely the snd-format files produced on-site at the radars will be distributed.
Submitter Name and Institution
Name: Evan Thomas Institution: Dartmouth College Preferred contact method (e.g., email): evan.g.thomas@dartmouth.edu
Purpose of Standardization
The newly proposed
snd-format file contains a reduced set of radar operating parameters and fitted values (e.g., velocity, power, spectral width, phi0) in datamap (dmap) format. This file type is designed to be produced on-site by a ROS-style radar operating a control program which collects frequency sounding data (e.g., interleavesound). Frequency sounding data collected by radars which have a dedicated sounding channel (e.g., Stereo or Mabel) may instead be converted from the standardrawacf-format files first tofitacfand thensndusing themake_fitandmake_sndbinaries respectively (see below).Production Method
The
snd-format file is designed as a lightweight file type for on-site production and transfer from radar sites, while still containing sufficient metadata and data for comprehensive scientific analysis. The information contained in thesnd-format file is, at a minimum, sufficient for determination of both maximum usable frequency (MUF) and critical frequency (foF2). These data could also be suitable for ingestion in other assimilative ionospheric applications.-sndcommand line options have been added to the time_plot and field_plot RST routines for simple visualization of the sounding data.Access to Production Method
The
sndsoftware is publicly available and currently under review as a pull request to the Radar Software Toolkit (RST). If approved, thesndlibraries and binaries will be distributed to end users as part of the overall RST package. QNX4 and QNX6-compatible software for the ROS is also available on the interleavesound branch of the SuperDARN control_programs repository.Requirements of Data Format
The standard SuperDARN datamap (dmap) format has been chosen for the
sndfile type for easier compatibility with existing ROS and RST software. A list of the fields in thesnd-format file can be found in the SndWrite C code, and a description of the fields can be found in the RST-compatible XML documentation (which will eventually be built as an HTML page once the pull request is approved).Read and write routines are available in both C and IDL (with DLM support available as well).
Method of Integration with Existing Formats
snd-format files are produced on-site by ROS-style radars operating the new interleavesound control program, or they may be generated via post-processing from afitacf-format file using the make_snd binary in the RST. There have not yet been any decisions on how widely thesnd-format files produced on-site at the radars will be distributed.