IMP-8 Satellite Solar Wind and Geomagnetic Index Data

NASA's IMP-8 satellite has collected charged particle, magnetic field, and plasma measurements from the near-Earth solar wind and magnetosphere since its 1973 launch. The dataset includes energetic ion and electron fluxes across multiple energy levels, merged with geomagnetic activity indices like AE, Kp, and Dst. Data is provided in text files and plots at time resolutions from 20-second to daily averages.

Use Cases

• Correlating solar proton fluxes (e.g., 1-2 MeV, 14-25 MeV) with geomagnetic storm indices (AE, AL, Dst) to study particle acceleration.
• Analyzing long-term trends in solar wind plasma parameters across multiple solar cycles using 32-day hourly-average plots.
• Modeling the response of the magnetosphere to interplanetary shocks using merged 20-second particle and 15-second magnetic field data.
• Investigating cosmic ray modulation by comparing daily-averaged proton fluxes (>10, 30, 60 MeV) with the F10.7 solar radio flux and sunspot number (Rz).

Strengths

• Provides a continuous multi-decade record from a single, long-lived satellite launched in 1973.
• Includes merged data products combining particle measurements at 20-second resolution with magnetic field (15-second) and plasma (1-minute) data.
• Covers a wide variety of ion species, energy ranges, and angular distributions across multiple detectors.

Limitations

• Critical metadata conflicts exist: one platform lists a last update of 2001-10-31, while another lists 2026-03 13, creating uncertainty about data currency.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and complete column schemas are not provided by any source.
• Some original data products are stored on legacy media like microfilm and microfiche.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), via the IMP-8 satellite's Charged Particle Measurement Experiment (CPME) and other instruments.

Collection Method

Measured in situ by the IMP-8 satellite instruments in the near-Earth solar wind, magnetosheath, and magnetotail.

Time Range

1973-10-26 (launch) onward, with data organized by solar cycle.

Freshness

2026-03-13 08:22:40.097049 (conflicts with 2001-10-31 date from another source)

Geography

Near-Earth space environment, including solar wind, magnetotail, and magnetosheath.