MMS 4: High-Resolution Magnetic Field Measurements from Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission

128 samples per second burst mode magnetic field data from the MMS 4 spacecraft's dual fluxgate magnetometers. The dataset is produced by NASA and involves cross-calibration between analog and digital sensors, with an estimated absolute error of no more than 0.2 nT in total magnitude within the mission's Region of Interest. A detailed instrument description and calibration methodology is documented in a peer-reviewed Springer article (DOI 10.1007/s11214-014 0057-3).

Use Cases

• Analyzing magnetic field fluctuations and waves based on the 128 sample/s burst mode data.
• Cross-calibrating satellite instrument measurements based on the described orbit-averaged calibration between AFG and DFG sensors.
• Studying magnetospheric dynamics within the Region of Interest (ROI) based on the high-resolution data acquired there.
• Monitoring zero-level drift along the spacecraft spin axis based on the use of Electron Drift Instrument (EDI) data mentioned in the description.

Strengths

• Provides data from dual, cross-calibrated magnetometers (Analog Fluxgate and Digital Fluxgate) operated as a single instrument.
• Offers high-resolution burst mode data at 128 samples per second within the mission's Region of Interest.
• Documents a specific, peer-reviewed calibration methodology with cited error estimates (e.g., 0.1 nT in spin-plane).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and total dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Small offset differences may exist between burst and survey mode data within the stated measurement error.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Measured by the Fluxgate Magnetometers (FGM) on the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 08:21:32.953476; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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