CNOFS PLP: 1-Second Ionospheric Plasma Measurements at 400-850km Altitudes

The equatorial ionosphere between 400 and 850 kilometers altitude is measured by the C/NOFS satellite's Planar Langmuir Probe. This preliminary dataset from NASA contains 1-second resolution measurements of ion number density, electron density, electron temperature, spacecraft potential, and spacecraft position in geodetic coordinates. Data were preliminary as of May 13, 2010.

Use Cases

• Modeling ionospheric irregularities based on ion number density and its standard deviation.
• Analyzing electron temperature and density relationships in the equatorial region.
• Correlating spacecraft potential with plasma density measurements.
• Mapping plasma structures spatially based on geodetic position coordinates.

Strengths

• Provides 1-second temporal resolution for high-frequency plasma dynamics.
• Covers a specific altitude range of 400-850km in the equatorial ionosphere.
• Includes multiple correlated variables: density, temperature, potential, and position.

Limitations

• Data were labeled as preliminary as of May 13, 2010; accuracy may be unverified.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and file formats are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Measured by the C/NOFS satellite's Planar Langmuir Probe (PLP) instrument.

Time Range

Temporal coverage is not specified in the provided input.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:29:43.833776; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Spatial coverage is the equatorial ionosphere.