Geomagnetic Field Models

The SPEDAS GUI can be used to generate and trace geomagnetic field models using the IDL Geopack library. The models currently available from the GUI include IGRF as well as the Tsygenenko 89, 96, 01 and 04 models.

The magnetic field models panel allows you to:

calculate the field model at a position (versus time)
trace the field from a position to the equator (versus time)
trace the field from a position to the ionosphere (versus time)

Requirements

The Geopack library must be installed before getting started. Download and install the latest Geopack from http://ampere.jhuapl.edu/code/idl_geopack.html

Usage

The Tsyganenko-Sitnov 04, Tsyganenko 01 and Tsyganenko 96 field models require various geomagnetic and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) data, including:

IMF By and Bz
Solar wind proton density
Solar wind flow speed
Dst (or Sym-H) index

Tsyganenko-Sitnov 04 (also known as TS05) model

The TS04 model also requires 6 "W" coefficients, though the Field Models panel in the GUI can be used to calculate the required W coefficients using the IMF data.

Tsyganenko 01 model

The T01 model also requires 2 "G" coefficients. As with the TS04 model, the Field Models panel in the GUI can be used to calculate the G coefficients automatically.

Tsyganenko 89 model

The only parameter required for using the T89 field model is the value of Kp; the field models panel uses a default Kp of 2-, 2, 2+.

International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) model

No additional parameters are required to calculate the IGRF model.

Examples

References

Modeling the Earth's Magnetosphere Using Spacecraft Magnetometer Data

Data Required for the TS05 Model (including W coefficients)

IDL Geopack DLM at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Magnetic Field Models in the SPEDAS GUI

Contents