Vol. 6, No. 3 • March 1996 EA LUNAHI SYSTEM MONITOR V. 6 no.3 ENGN UMMU GE 1 SPIDR on the Web no.3 NGDC's online space physics data resource and analysis tool 1996 The SPIDR research and analysis tool gives NGDC this capability. NGDC also needed an easy-to-use mechaservices NOAA NESDIS nism to inventory, catalog, and search the ar chives. A database management system was INSIDE The National Geophysical Data Center's selected to achieve the required flexibility. Fi innovative Space Physics Interactive Data Re- nally, this capability to search NGDC data sets, 3 source (SPIDR) is a multi-disciplinary online sys- to create a data display “on the fly," to browse News briefs tem to search, browse, and access space weather the archives, and to conduct interdisciplinary and environmental datasets over the Internet. analysis on the Internet was opened up for every6 SPIDR is a tool for the online user to select data one to use. and to deliver an image to the user over the External users To meet external user requirements NGDC 8 Currently, Defense Meteorological Satellite needed to provide access to the archives in a New digitized glacier Program (DMSP) satellite imagery, geomagnetic variety of ways to satisfy customer requests and inventory for the variations, and ionospheric vertical incidence to provide data products and services. Using former Soviet Union databases can be accessed by the Space Physics today's technology on the World Wide Web and China Interactive Data Resource. DMSP imagery dis- (WWW), NGDC is able to provide this capability plays aurora, city lights, fires, lightning strikes, to the external user in an easy-to-use online for11 and cloud coverage. Ionospheric and geomag- mat. NCDC announces netic data can be plotted from interactive menus. NGDC decided to provide plots and imagery new online products The Web user selects the month and year from as well as data to customers utilizing commercial and services pull-down menus and clicks the worldwide map off-the-shelf software to create GIF images “on in the region of interest. Worldwide contour the fly." Selected for this purpose was the Inter12 maps of maximum electron density can also be active Data Language (IDL) set of software tools The Florida Keys generated from a global model of the iono- to create and display imagery. The SPIDR system Ecosystem Monitoring sphere. retrieves the requested data from a relational Project SPIDR was designed - continued on page 2 to use current technol14 ogy to meet both interAdvances from the nal and external user Shipboard ADCP requirements. Internally, Archive Center the National Geophysi cal Data Center (NGDC) 15 needed flexibility in the management of the na- UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LIBRARIES MAY 0 9 1996 Wednhversus of Menigan into physical models. DEPOSITED BY Engineering UNITED STATES OFA ubrang National Geophysical NOAA NESDIS E/GC2 A Figure 1. NGDC's Space Physics interactive Data Resource (SPIDR) iogo, and Atmospheric Boulder, CO 80302 overlaying a DMSP satellite image of Hurricane Alison. Through SPIDR, users can select data and/or imagery such as this by date and geographic location, oloughlin@ngdc.noaa.gov and ionospheric and geomagnetic data can be plotted from interactive menus. OF COMMERCE UNITED AMERICA STATES OF National Oceanographic Data Center EDITOR Sheri Phillips Fax: 301-713-3302 SPIDR, from page 1 ing, and manipulating images and plots. database management system, generates Users may capture and download ima plot, prepares a GIF image of the plot, ages (Figure 2) for later use or request and sends the image to the user over the digital values using E-mail. SPIDR is World Wide Web. being used for atmospheric physical sciences homework assignments in the An online research tool classroom from elementary through SPIDR is a tool designed to make graduate levels. accessing data and conducting research Space physics effects seen in the easier. Navigating the relational data- ionosphere can be analyzed in a multibase with SPIDR will assist scientists and disciplinary environment through the researchers in analyzing space weather online manipulation of the database and environmental data. At NGDC, management tool. The database manSPIDR is used as a tool for data manage- agement system will enable global qualment, analysis, and investigations of ity control both by comparing data and space environment effects on man's providing input from the database mantechnology in space and on Earth. agement system to physical models and The average user is in the SPIDR comparing the model output with the system for a full hour browsing, retriev- observed values. - continued on page 4 Infrared Visible and Orbital Coverage of 18 orbit from satellite F13, Closest matching dha Mon Jun 19 04:23:06 1995 nea Lat. 66.000000 Lon 198.399604. ASSOCIATE EDITOR Nancy O'Donnell Fax: 301-713-3302 DISCLAIMER Mention in the Earth System Monitor of commercial companies or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce. Use for publicity or advertising purposes of information published in the Earth System Monitor concerning proprietary products or the tests of such products is not authorized WER A Figure 3. DMSP satellites collect visible and thermal infrared imagery in global coverage along a 3000-mile swath with the Operational Linescan System (OLS.) Users within SPIDR can select DMSP imagery by date and geographical position anywhere on earth. DMSP images are then returned along with the satellite path and a button tool for navigating the database, i.e., by 'flying' the satellite about the globe. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Ronald H. Brown, Secretary National Oceanic and D. James Baker, |