The magnetic field azimuth and elevation data provided in the TIDE level-zero data files in the spin header is not as smooth as they could to be. The Polar Magnetic Field Experiment Team reprocesses the data to improve the quality. Several plots of TIDE and MFE b-field data showing the differences are on the archive in /archive/tide_docs/Software/bfld.
The TIDE processing software offers the option to use MFE data rather than TIDE spin header data. Note: This option is not available from the website.
To get the better quality data go to the MFE website either from a link on the TIDE Related Sites webpage or the MFE Home Page and select the Data tab at the top of the page, then select Polar MFE Interactive Data Server, then select ASCII high (6 second) data on the right, then select Observed Field and Spacecraft, enter the time range, and Get Data. Use Polar data to list the data, cut and paste the data into an appropriately named file. Recommendation: use .mfe as the file extension. Leave all the header information in the file. The software relies on the content of these lines in order to determine where the data starts. Sample MFE data files are on the archive in /archive/tide_docs/Software/bfld.
In order to use the MFE file in the TIDE processing software, create a parameter file that uses MFE rather TIDE magnetic field data and add the MFE magnetic field data file to the list of files in the input file. The MFE file is filetype 7 so the line would start with a 7 followed by the name of the MFE file including the full path. Then run tide_lz from IDL (@run_tide) using the new parameter and input files. See Parameter File Creation and Input File for details about the tide_lz parameter and input files.
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Last Updated: August 2008