ISIS-1 Topside Ionograms: Average Soundings over Quito, Ecuador

ISIS-1 satellite topside ionogram data digitized from analog telemetry at NASA GSFC. The dataset includes fixed and swept frequency portions for the Quito station, with a time resolution of 29 seconds and a sample rate of 40,000 16-bit samples per second. This version 2 product corrects frame-sync detection issues from earlier versions to enable automated processing for electron density profiles.

Use Cases

• Modeling ionospheric electron density (Ne(h)) profiles based on topside sounder data.
• Analyzing plasma resonances and wave phenomena based on frequency and range information.
• Studying latitudinal variations in the ionosphere by comparing data from low, mid, and high-latitude stations.
• Calibrating automated ionogram processing software like TOPIST using corrected frequency data.

Strengths

• Data digitized at a high sample rate of 40 kHz, exceeding the Nyquist frequency for 30 kHz signals.
• Version 2 files correct frame-sync detection, enabling automated processing which was not possible with version 1.
• Project aims to expand Ne(h) profile coverage across latitude, longitude, and epoch.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data format is BIN, requiring specialized tools for access and interpretation.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA GSFC, Code 692)

Collection Method

Digitized from original ISIS 1 analog telemetry data on 7-track tape at NASA's Data Evaluation Laboratory.

Time Range

Temporal coverage is not explicitly stated in the provided description.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 06:11:23.074159; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Data from the Quito, Ecuador (QUI) telemetry station at latitude -1°, longitude 281°.