Available parameters for Swarm

Available parameters for Swarm#

Tip

There are several ways to discover and learn more about the available data and models:

Note

Did you know? The VirES for Swarm service provides data not only from Swarm but also INTERMAGNET ground observatories (search below for AUX_OBS), recalibrated platform magnetometer data from selected LEO missions (search below for MAG_), and other “multi-mission” data such as total electron content (TEC), electron densities, temperatures, and their gradients. These are derived from spacecraft such as GOCE, CryoSat, GRACE, GRACE-FO, and more.

You can check which parameters are available with:

from viresclient import SwarmRequest
request = SwarmRequest()
request.available_collections()
request.available_measurements("MAG")
request.available_measurements("SW_OPER_MAGA_LR_1B")
request.available_models()
request.available_auxiliaries()

The available measurements are segregated according to the “collection” (essentially Swarm products): each collection has a number of measurements associated with it, and the appropriate collection must be set in order to access the measurements. auxiliaries are available together with any set collection. models provide magnetic model evaluation on demand, at the locations of the time series which is being accessed (when accessing magnetic field data such as MAG or MAG_HR). Standard positional variables always returned, such as Timestamp, Spacecraft, geocentric Latitude, Longitude, Radius.

collections#

Note

FAST data are available for some products. These are processed and made available faster than the traditional operational (OPER) data, mainly for space weather monitoring. The collection names are the same, but with OPER replaced by FAST:

  • SW_FAST_MAGx_LR_1B

  • SW_FAST_MAGx_HR_1B

  • SW_FAST_EFIx_LP_1B

  • SW_FAST_MODx_SC_1B

  • SW_FAST_FACxTMS_2F

  • SW_FAST_TECxTMS_2F

  • SW_FAST_AEJxLPL_2F

  • SW_FAST_AEJxPBL_2F

  • SW_FAST_AOBxFAC_2F

Collections are grouped according to a type containing similar measurements (i.e. the same product from different spacecraft). The collection type can be given to viresclient.SwarmRequest.available_collections() to retrieve the full collection names. These cover the Swarm data products as below (replace x with A, B, or C for Alpha, Bravo, or Charlie):

Collection full name

Collection type

Description

SW_OPER_MAGx_LR_1B

MAG

Magnetic field (1Hz) from VFM and ASM

SW_OPER_MAGx_HR_1B

MAG_HR

Magnetic field (50Hz) from VFM

SW_OPER_EFIx_LP_1B

EFI

Electric field instrument (Langmuir probe measurements at 2Hz)

SW_OPER_EFIxTIE_2_

EFI_TIE

Estimates of the ion temperatures

SW_EXPT_EFIx_TCT02

EFI_TCT02

2Hz cross-track ion flows

SW_EXPT_EFIx_TCT16

EFI_TCT16

16Hz cross-track ion flows

SW_PREL_EFIxIDM_2_

EFI_IDM

2Hz ion drift velocities and effective masses (SLIDEM project)

SW_OPER_IPDxIRR_2F

IPD

Ionospheric plasma characteristics (derived quantities at 1Hz)

SW_OPER_TECxTMS_2F

TEC

Total electron content

SW_OPER_FACxTMS_2F

FAC

Field-aligned currents (single satellite)

SW_OPER_FAC_TMS_2F

FAC

Field-aligned currents (dual-satellite A-C)

SW_OPER_EEFxTMS_2F

EEF

Equatorial electric field

SW_OPER_IBIxTMS_2F

IBI

Ionospheric bubble index

SW_OPER_MODx_SC_1B

MOD_SC

Spacecraft positions at 1Hz

The AEBS (auroral electrojets and boundaries) products are a bit more complicated:

Collection full name

Collection type

Description

SW_OPER_AEJxLPL_2F

AEJ_LPL

Auroral electrojets line profile - Line current method (LC)

SW_OPER_AEJxLPL_2F:Quality

AEJ_LPL:Quality

-> Quality indicators per orbital section from LC

SW_OPER_AEJxPBL_2F

AEJ_PBL

-> Peaks and boundaries from LC

SW_OPER_AEJxLPS_2F

AEJ_LPS

Auroral electrojets line profile - SECS method

SW_OPER_AEJxLPS_2F:Quality

AEJ_LPS:Quality

-> Quality indicators per orbital section from SECS

SW_OPER_AEJxPBS_2F

AEJ_PBS

-> Peaks and boundaries from SECS

SW_OPER_AEJxPBS_2F:GroundMagneticDisturbance

AEJ_PBS:GroundMagneticDisturbance

-> Location and strength of peak ground disturbance per pass

SW_OPER_AOBxFAC_2F

AOB_FAC

Auroral oval boundaries derived from FACs

The PRISM (Plasmapause Related boundaries in the topside Ionosphere as derived from Swarm Measurements) products are provided as:

Collection full name

Collection type

Description

SW_OPER_MITx_LP_2F

MIT_LP

Minima of the Midlatitude Ionospheric Trough (MIT) - derived from Langmuir Probe (LP) measurements

SW_OPER_MITx_LP_2F:ID

MIT_LP:ID

-> Boundaries of the MIT - derived from the LP

SW_OPER_MITxTEC_2F

MIT_TEC

Minima of the MIT - derived from Total Electron Content (TEC)

SW_OPER_MITxTEC_2F:ID

MIT_TEC:ID

-> Boundaries of the MIT - derived from TEC

SW_OPER_PPIxFAC_2F

PPI_FAC

Midnight Plasmapause Index (PPI)

SW_OPER_PPIxFAC_2F:ID

PPI_FAC:ID

-> Boundaries of the Small-Scale Field Aligned Currents (SSFAC)

TOLEOS (Thermosphere Observations from Low-Earth Orbiting Satellites) products are provided as follows.

Collection full name

Collection type

Description

CH_OPER_DNS_ACC_2_

DNS_ACC_CHAMP

Thermosphere mass density (CHAMP)

GR_OPER_DNSxACC_2_

DNS_ACC_GRACE

Thermosphere mass density (GRACE)

GF_OPER_DNSxACC_2_

DNS_ACC_GFO

Thermosphere mass density (GRACE-FO)

CH_OPER_WND_ACC_2_

WND_ACC_CHAMP

Thermosphere crosswind (CHAMP)

GR_OPER_WNDxACC_2_

WND_ACC_GRACE

Thermosphere crosswind (GRACE)

GF_OPER_WNDxACC_2_

WND_ACC_GFO

Thermosphere crosswind (GRACE-FO)

MM_CON_SPH_2_:crossover

Conjunction information (times when ground-tracks intersect)

MM_CON_SPH_2_:plane_alignment

Conjunction information (times when orbital planes align)

The MIGRAS project (Monitoring of Ionospheric Gradients At Swarm) contributes the NEGIX and TEGIX products:

Collection full name

Collection type

SW_OPER_NIX_TMS_2F

NIX_TMS

SW_OPER_TIX_TMS_2F

TIX_TMS

The TIRO project provides products for TEC and Ne derived from CHAMP, GRACE, and GRACE-FO:

Collection full name

Collection type

CH_OPER_TEC_TMS_2F

TEC_TIRO

GR_OPER_TECxTMS_2F

TEC_TIRO

GF_OPER_TECxTMS_2F

TEC_TIRO

GR_OPER_NE__KBR_2F

NE_TIRO

GF_OPER_NE__KBR_2F

NE_TIRO

ULF wave products are provided as:

Collection full name

Collection type

SW_OPER_ULFxMAG_2F

ULF_MAG

SW_OPER_ULFxMAG_2F:event

ULF_MAG:event

SW_OPER_ULFxMAG_2F:event_mean

ULF_MAG:event_mean

SW_OPER_PC1xMAG_2F:Bp_event

PC1_MAG:event

SW_OPER_PC1xMAG_2F:Br_event

PC1_MAG:event

SW_OPER_PC1xMAG_2F:Ba_event

PC1_MAG:event

SW_OPER_PC1xMAG_2F:Bp_event_mean

PC1_MAG:event_mean

SW_OPER_PC1xMAG_2F:Br_event_mean

PC1_MAG:event_mean

SW_OPER_PC1xMAG_2F:Ba_event_mean

PC1_MAG:event_mean

The AUX_OBS collections contain ground magnetic observatory data from INTERMAGNET and WDC. Please note that these data are provided under different usage terms than the ESA data, and must be acknowledged accordingly.

Collection full name

Collection type

Description

SW_OPER_AUX_OBSH2_

AUX_OBSH

Hourly values derived from both WDC and INTERMAGNET data

SW_OPER_AUX_OBSM2_

AUX_OBSM

Minute values from INTERMAGNET

SW_OPER_AUX_OBSS2_

AUX_OBSS

Second values from INTERMAGNET

The AUX_OBS collections contain data from all observatories together (distinguishable by the IAGA_code variable). Data from a single observatory can be accessed with special collection names like SW_OPER_AUX_OBSM2_:ABK where ABK can be replaced with the IAGA code of the observatory. Use viresclient.SwarmRequest.available_observatories() to find these IAGA codes.

The VOBS collections contain derived magnetic measurements from Geomagnetic Virtual Observatories and have a similar interface as the AUX_OBS collections. The data are organised across several collections:

Collection full name

Collection type

Description

SW_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_

VOBS_SW_1M

Swarm (1-monthly cadence)

OR_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_

VOBS_OR_1M

Ørsted (1-monthly cadence)

CH_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_

VOBS_CH_1M

CHAMP (1-monthly)

CR_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_

VOBS_CR_1M

Cryosat-2 (1-monthly)

CO_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_

VOBS_CO_1M

Composite time series from Ørsted, CHAMP, Cryosat-2, & Swarm (1-monthly)

SW_OPER_VOBS_4M_2_

VOBS_SW_4M

Swarm (4-monthly)

OR_OPER_VOBS_4M_2_

VOBS_OR_4M

Ørsted (4-monthly)

CH_OPER_VOBS_4M_2_

VOBS_CH_4M

CHAMP (4-monthly)

CR_OPER_VOBS_4M_2_

VOBS_CR_4M

Cryosat-2 (4-monthly)

CO_OPER_VOBS_4M_2_

VOBS_CO_4M

Composite time series from Ørsted, CHAMP, Cryosat-2, & Swarm (4-monthly)

SW_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_:SecularVariation

VOBS_SW_1M:SecularVariation

Secular variation (B_SV) from Swarm 1-monthly

(ditto for the others)

Each VOBS product (e.g. Swarm 1-monthly) is split into two collections (e.g. SW_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_ (containing B_OB & B_CF) and SW_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_:SecularVariation (containing B_SV)) because of the different temporal sampling points (i.e. differing Timestamp) of these measurements. Data can also be requested for a specific virtual observatory alone (distinguishable by the SiteCode variable) with special collection names like SW_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_:N65W051 and SW_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_:SecularVariation:N65W051.

CHAMP magnetic products are available:

Collection full name

Collection type

Available measurement names

CH_ME_MAG_LR_3

MAG_CHAMP

F,B_VFM,B_NEC,Flags_Position,Flags_B,Flags_q,Mode_q,q_ICRF_CRF

Calibrated magnetic data are also available from external missions: Cryosat-2, GRACE (A+B), GRACE-FO (1+2), GOCE:

Collection full name

Collection type

Available measurement names

CS_OPER_MAG

MAG_CS

F,B_NEC,B_mod_NEC,B_NEC1,B_NEC2,B_NEC3,B_FGM1,B_FGM2,B_FGM3,q_NEC_CRF,q_error

GRACE_x_MAG (x=A/B)

MAG_GRACE

F,B_NEC,B_NEC_raw,B_FGM,B_mod_NEC,q_NEC_CRF,q_error

GFx_OPER_FGM_ACAL_CORR (x=1/2)

MAG_GFO

F,B_NEC,B_FGM,dB_MTQ_FGM,dB_XI_FGM,dB_NY_FGM,dB_BT_FGM,dB_ST_FGM,dB_SA_FGM,dB_BAT_FGM,q_NEC_FGM,B_FLAG

GFx_MAG_ACAL_CORR_ML (x=1/2)

MAG_GFO_ML

F,B_MAG,B_NEC,q_NEC_FGM,B_FLAG,KP_DST_FLAG,Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD

GO_MAG_ACAL_CORR

MAG_GOCE

F,B_MAG,B_NEC,dB_MTQ_SC,dB_XI_SC,dB_NY_SC,dB_BT_SC,dB_ST_SC,dB_SA_SC,dB_BAT_SC,dB_HK_SC,dB_BLOCK_CORR,q_SC_NEC,q_MAG_SC,B_FLAG

GO_MAG_ACAL_CORR_ML

MAG_GOCE_ML

F,B_MAG,B_NEC,q_FGM_NEC,B_FLAG,MAGNETIC_ACTIVITY_FLAG,NaN_FLAG,Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD

The measurements, models, and auxiliaries chosen will match the cadence of the collection chosen.

measurements#

Choose combinations of measurements from one of the following sets, corresponding to the collection chosen above. The collection full name or collection type can be given to viresclient.SwarmRequest.available_measurements() to retrieve the list of available measurements for a given collection (e.g. request.available_measurements("SW_OPER_MAGA_LR_1B"))

Collection type

Available measurement names

MAG

F,dF_Sun,dF_AOCS,dF_other,F_error,B_VFM,B_NEC,dB_Sun,dB_AOCS,dB_other,B_error,q_NEC_CRF,Att_error,Flags_F,Flags_B,Flags_q,Flags_Platform,ASM_Freq_Dev

MAG_HR

F,B_VFM,B_NEC,dB_Sun,dB_AOCS,dB_other,B_error,q_NEC_CRF,Att_error,Flags_B,Flags_q,Flags_Platform,ASM_Freq_Dev

EFI

U_orbit,Ne,Ne_error,Te,Te_error,Vs,Vs_error,Flags_LP,Flags_Ne,Flags_Te,Flags_Vs

EFI_TIE

Latitude_GD,Longitude_GD,Height_GD,Radius_GC,Latitude_QD,MLT_QD,Tn_msis,Te_adj_LP,Ti_meas_drift,Ti_model_drift,Flag_ti_meas,Flag_ti_model

EFI_TCTyy

VsatC,VsatE,VsatN,Bx,By,Bz,Ehx,Ehy,Ehz,Evx,Evy,Evz,Vicrx,Vicry,Vicrz,Vixv,Vixh,Viy,Viz,Vixv_error,Vixh_error,Viy_error,Viz_error,Latitude_QD,MLT_QD,Calibration_flags,Quality_flags

EFI_IDM

Latitude_GD,Longitude_GD,Height_GD,Radius_GC,Latitude_QD,MLT_QD,V_sat_nec,M_i_eff,M_i_eff_err,M_i_eff_Flags,M_i_eff_tbt_model,V_i,V_i_err,V_i_Flags,V_i_raw,N_i,N_i_err,N_i_Flags,A_fp,R_p,T_e,Phi_sc

IPD

Ne,Te,Background_Ne,Foreground_Ne,PCP_flag,Grad_Ne_at_100km,Grad_Ne_at_50km,Grad_Ne_at_20km,Grad_Ne_at_PCP_edge,ROD,RODI10s,RODI20s,delta_Ne10s,delta_Ne20s,delta_Ne40s,Num_GPS_satellites,mVTEC,mROT,mROTI10s,mROTI20s,IBI_flag,Ionosphere_region_flag,IPIR_index,Ne_quality_flag,TEC_STD

TEC

GPS_Position,LEO_Position,PRN,L1,L2,P1,P2,S1,S2,Elevation_Angle,Absolute_VTEC,Absolute_STEC,Relative_STEC,Relative_STEC_RMS,DCB,DCB_Error

FAC

IRC,IRC_Error,FAC,FAC_Error,Flags,Flags_F,Flags_B,Flags_q

EEF

EEF,EEJ,RelErr,Flags

IBI

Bubble_Index,Bubble_Probability,Flags_Bubble,Flags_F,Flags_B,Flags_q

AEBS products:

Collection type

Available measurement names

AEJ_LPL

Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,J_NE,J_QD

AEJ_LPL:Quality

RMS_misfit,Confidence

AEJ_PBL

Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,J_QD,Flags,PointType

AEJ_LPS

Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,J_CF_NE,J_DF_NE,J_CF_SemiQD,J_DF_SemiQD,J_R

AEJ_LPS:Quality

RMS_misfit,Confidence

AEJ_PBS

Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,J_DF_SemiQD,Flags,PointType

AEJ_PBS:GroundMagneticDisturbance

B_NE

AOB_FAC

Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,Boundary_Flag,Quality,Pair_Indicator

PRISM products:

Collection type

Available measurement names

MIT_LP

Counter,Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,L_value,SZA,Ne,Te,Depth,DR,Width,dL,PW_Gradient,EW_Gradient,Quality

MIT_LP:ID

Counter,Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,L_value,SZA,Ne,Te,Position_Quality,PointType

MIT_TEC

Counter,Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,L_value,SZA,TEC,Depth,DR,Width,dL,PW_Gradient,EW_Gradient,Quality

MIT_TEC:ID

Counter,Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,L_value,SZA,TEC,Position_Quality,PointType

PPI_FAC

Counter,Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,L_value,SZA,Sigma,PPI,dL,Quality

PPI_FAC:ID

Counter,Latitude_QD,Longitude_QD,MLT_QD,L_value,SZA,Position_Quality,PointType

AUX_OBS products:

Collection type

Available measurement names

AUX_OBSH

B_NEC,F,IAGA_code,Quality,ObsIndex

AUX_OBSM

B_NEC,F,IAGA_code,Quality

AUX_OBSS

B_NEC,F,IAGA_code,Quality

AUX_OBSH contains a special variable, ObsIndex, which is set to 0, 1, 2 … to indicate changes to the observatory where the IAGA code has remained the same (e.g. small change of location, change of instrument or calibration procedure).

VOBS products:

Collection full name

Available measurement names

SW_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_

SiteCode,B_CF,B_OB,sigma_CF,sigma_OB

SW_OPER_VOBS_1M_2_:SecularVariation

SiteCode,B_SV,sigma_SV

(ditto for the others)

models#

When requesting a MAG-type collection, geomagnetic models can be evaluated on-demand along the satellite track (i.e. at the same times and positions as the data). You have the choice of receiving either the model values together with the measurements (i.e. B_NEC & B_NEC_Model), or simply the data-model residuals (i.e. B_NEC_res_Model).

To evaluate models at arbitrary coordinates (i.e. without a data request), see viresclient.SwarmRequest.eval_model() and viresclient.SwarmRequest.eval_model_for_cdf_file().

Note

For a good estimate of the ionospheric field measured by a Swarm satellite (with the core, crust and magnetosphere effects removed) use a composed model defined as: models=["'CHAOS-full' = 'CHAOS-Core' + 'CHAOS-Static' + 'CHAOS-MMA-Primary' + 'CHAOS-MMA-Secondary'"] (click for more info)

This composed model (core + crust + magnetosphere) can also be accessed by an alias: models=["CHAOS"]. Note that this does not include the ionospheric part ("CHAOS-MIO") which was added to the CHAOS series in CHAOS-8.

See Magnetic Earth for an introduction to geomagnetic models.

IGRF,

# Comprehensive inversion (CI) models:
MCO_SHA_2C,                                # Core
MLI_SHA_2C,                                # Lithosphere
MMA_SHA_2C-Primary, MMA_SHA_2C-Secondary,  # Magnetosphere
MIO_SHA_2C-Primary, MIO_SHA_2C-Secondary,  # Ionosphere

# Dedicated inversion models:
MCO_SHA_2D,                                # Core
MLI_SHA_2D, MLI_SHA_2E                     # Lithosphere
MIO_SHA_2D-Primary, MIO_SHA_2D-Secondary   # Ionosphere
AMPS                                       # High-latitude ionosphere

# Fast-track models:
MMA_SHA_2F-Primary, MMA_SHA_2F-Secondary,  # Magnetosphere

# CHAOS models:
CHAOS-Core,                                # Core
CHAOS-Static,                              # Lithosphere
CHAOS-MMA-Primary, CHAOS-MMA-Secondary     # Magnetosphere
CHAOS-MIO                                  # Polar ionosphere

# Other lithospheric models:
MF7, LCS-1

# Aliases for compositions of the above models (shortcuts)
MCO_SHA_2X    # 'CHAOS-Core'
CHAOS-MMA     # 'CHAOS-MMA-Primary' + 'CHAOS-MMA-Secondary'
CHAOS         # 'CHAOS-Core' + 'CHAOS-Static' + 'CHAOS-MMA-Primary' + 'CHAOS-MMA-Secondary'
MMA_SHA_2F    # 'MMA_SHA_2F-Primary' + 'MMA_SHA_2F-Secondary'
MMA_SHA_2C    # 'MMA_SHA_2C-Primary' + 'MMA_SHA_2C-Secondary'
MIO_SHA_2C    # 'MIO_SHA_2C-Primary' + 'MIO_SHA_2C-Secondary'
MIO_SHA_2D    # 'MIO_SHA_2D-Primary' + 'MIO_SHA_2D-Secondary'
SwarmCI       # 'MCO_SHA_2C' + 'MLI_SHA_2C' + 'MIO_SHA_2C-Primary' + 'MIO_SHA_2C-Secondary' + 'MMA_SHA_2C-Primary' + 'MMA_SHA_2C-Secondary'

Custom (user uploaded) models can be provided as a .shc file and become accessible in the same way as pre-defined models, under the name "Custom_Model".

Flexible evaluation of models and defining new derived models is possible with the “model expressions” functionality whereby models can be defined like:

request.set_products(
  ...
  models=["Combined_model = 'MMA_SHA_2F-Primary'(min_degree=1,max_degree=1) + 'MMA_SHA_2F-Secondary'(min_degree=1,max_degree=1)"],
  ...
)

In this case, model evaluations will then be available in the returned data under the name “Combined_model”, but you can name it however you like.

NB: When using model names containing a hyphen (-) then extra single (') or double (") quotes must be used around the model name. This is to distinguish from arithmetic minus (-).

auxiliaries#

SyncStatus, Kp10, Kp, Dst, dDst, IMF_BY_GSM, IMF_BZ_GSM, IMF_V, F107, F10_INDEX,
OrbitDirection, QDOrbitDirection,
OrbitSource, OrbitNumber, AscendingNodeTime,
AscendingNodeLongitude, QDLat, QDLon, QDBasis, MLT, SunDeclination,
SunHourAngle, SunRightAscension, SunAzimuthAngle, SunZenithAngle,
SunLongitude, SunVector, DipoleAxisVector, NGPLatitude, NGPLongitude,
DipoleTiltAngle, F107_avg81d, F107_avg81d_count

Note

  • Kp provides the Kp values in fractional form (e.g 2.2), and Kp10 is multiplied by 10 (as integers)

  • F107 is the hourly 10.7 cm solar radio flux value, and F10_INDEX is the daily average

  • QDLat and QDLon are quasi-dipole coordinates

  • MLT is calculated from the QDLon and the subsolar position

  • OrbitDirection and QDOrbitDirection flags indicate if the satellite is moving towards or away from each pole, respectively for geographic and quasi-dipole magnetic poles. +1 for ascending, and -1 for descending (in latitude); 0 for no data.

Note

Check other packages such as hapiclient and others from PyHC for data from other sources.

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