ACE MAG: 1-Second Solar Wind Magnetic Field Measurements in GSE and GSM Coordinates

ACE Magnetic Field (MAG) Level 2 data contains 1-second measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field from the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite. The data is processed to Level 2 quality, which the description states is suitable for serious scientific study, and is provided in Geocentric Solar Ecliptic (GSE) and Geocentric Solar Magnetospheric (GSM) coordinate systems. The dataset is maintained by NASA and was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling space weather events based on high-resolution magnetic field time series.
• Correlating solar wind conditions with geomagnetic activity based on GSE and GSM coordinate data.
• Validating magnetospheric models using in-situ satellite measurements.
• Studying magnetic field turbulence and discontinuities in the solar wind.

Strengths

• Data is processed to Level 2 quality, which the description explicitly states is suitable for serious scientific study.
• Measurements are provided at a 1-second temporal resolution, suggesting high-frequency detail.
• Data is provided in both Geocentric Solar Ecliptic (GSE) and Geocentric Solar Magnetospheric (GSM) coordinate systems.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The description advises users to consult with the ACE team before publication to avoid misunderstanding, indicating potential complexity in usage.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Measurements from the ACE satellite's Magnetic Field Instrument (MAG).

Time Range

The description does not specify a temporal coverage range.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 14:33:24.965405; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Data is collected in space near the L1 Lagrange point.