Cluster-Tango WBD: High-Resolution Plasma Wave Data from Four Satellites

The European Space Agency's Cluster mission provides calibrated waveform data from four satellites (Rumba, Salsa, Tango, Tango) in Earth's magnetosphere. High time resolution electric and magnetic field data are sampled in three frequency bands (0-577 kHz) using antennas and search coils, with time resolutions ranging from 4.6 to 36.5 microseconds. Data availability depends on telemetry downlinks from the DSN and Panska Ves ground stations.

Use Cases

• Analyze wave modes and frequencies based on electric and magnetic field waveform data.
• Study wave propagation and orientation using the included magnetic field and GSE coordinate system angles.
• Compare plasma wave activity across different spacecraft locations using data from the four Cluster satellites.
• Investigate instrument performance and data quality based on the recorded instrument mode and data quality flags.

Strengths

• Data includes calibrated electric and magnetic field values.
• Provides high time resolution waveform data with sampling intervals as low as 4.6 microseconds.
• Offers data from three distinct filter bandwidth modes (9.5 kHz, 19 kHz, 77 kHz).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data availability is dependent on specific ground station telemetry downlinks.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data collected by the Wideband Data (WBD) Plasma Wave Receivers on the four Cluster spacecraft.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:27:51.278420; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Earth's magnetosphere and surrounding space.