HAO stores MLSO data on a UNIX workstation. Daily images, synoptic data, logs and listings are available in our anonymous ftp directory on puu.hao.ucar.edu. To obtain Mauna Loa Observatory data via ftp please follow the instructions in this section. The Mauna Loa internet home page may be accessed via the following http address:
http://www.hao.ucar.edu/public/research/mlso/mlso_homepage.html
The Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii records the sun's corona
in white light and
the
solar disk and limb in the 656.3nm emission line
of neutral hydrogen (H
).
The field of view of the K-Coronameter is 1.122 to 2.44 solar radii (as
measured from
sun center).
The K-Coronameter data are scaled such that 104.4 pixels are
equivalent
to one solar radius.
All data are rotated so that solar north is oriented
straight up;
solar north is known to within three degrees.
For additional information about
the
instrument refer to Fisher et al. [1981].
The observatory begins
daily operations (weather permitting) at approximately
1700 UT and continues
recording images for 3-10 hours depending on the weather.
Fifty to one hundred
white light coronal images are recorded on a typical observing day as well as
approximately
100 full limb and 100 full disk H
images.
Calibrated data are available approximately ten days after the raw data are
recorded.
Raw images are posted the day that they are taken.
Daily H
disk and limb
images, daily
activity reports and synoptic maps are also available on the ftp
directory.
Additional data may be requested via electronic mail to:
mlso_data_requests@ncar.ucar.edu
If you wish to logon to this ftp directory you may do so as follows:
ftp puu.hao.ucar.edu ( or ftp 128.117.16.39)
Name: anonymous
Password: your e-mail address
ftp>
All directories contain an INDEX and README file. The README file explains the purpose of the directory; the INDEX file lists the names and a brief description of the files in that directory.
To get the calibrated coronal images:
ftp> cd /mk3/daily_images
ftp> ls
At this point you must choose a subdirectory containing the year and month of interest. For example, if you wish to obtain the February 1995 data type the following:
ftp> cd 1995/02_feb
ftp> ls
You should see a list of available images. To copy them type:
ftp> binary
ftp> prompt
ftp> get 95d051.qual.ras (this copies the Feb 20 (day-of-year 51) image)
ftp> mget * (this copies all of the February images)
A pseudo ``vignetting'' function has been put in these images to offset the large radial density gradient, allowing for better viewing of the corona.
All of the coronal images are daily averaged images in sun raster format.
They can be displayed in X-windows with the ``xv'' command, or in IDL
with the 
command.
To display the data in IDL type:
IDL> read_srf, 'mlso_filename', data, r, g, b
IDL> wset,0 & tv,data,order=1
IDL> tvlct, r, g, b
To get the raw coronal images:
ftp> cd mk3/raw_daily_image
ftp> ls
You will see approximately 10 images covering the period from the current observing day back to the last day prior to calibration. All images are in gif format. To copy the data type:
ftp> binary
ftp> prompt
ftp> mget *gif (this copies all raw images)
These may be displayed with the read_gif command in IDL.
To get the H
images:
ftp> cd dpm/daily_images
ftp> ls
Again you must choose a subdirectory containing the year
and month of interest. This dataset begins in February 1994 when
a new digital camera was installed at the Observatory. Prior
to that date the H
data were recorded on film.
Digital versions of these
older images can be generated (in reasonable amounts) upon request.
If, for example, you wish to obtain December 1994 data type the following:
ftp> cd 1994/12_dec
ftp> ls
You should see a list of available images in raster and gif format. The limb and disk of the sun have been superimposed to form one image. The composite images are named after the day-of-year (DOY), the time of the limb, and the time of the disk image used, i. e.:
94d365.2009L.2200D.ras or
94d365.2009L.2200D.gif
To copy them type:
ftp> binary
ftp> prompt
ftp> get filename (this copies one image to your directory)
ftp> mget *ras (this copies all of the December images in raster format)
ftp> mget *gif (this copies all of the December images in gif format)
The most recent month of H
daily images are available in FITS format as
well
as the gif and raster limb/disk composites. The program seedPmon.pro, written
by
Alice Lecinski, is available to display the images in IDL. To copy this program
type:
ftp> cd /dpm/daily_images
ftp> get seedPmon.pro
In addition, you can display FITS formatted images with the new 3.1 version of the ``xv'' command or if you use an SGI workstation you can use ``bit'' or ``xv''.
To get the daily event listings:
ftp> cd /mk3/log
The ascii files containing event information are:
mk3.events.1983
mk3.events.1984
mk3.events.1985
mk3.events.1986
mk3.events.1987
mk3.events.1991
mk3.events.1992
mk3.events.1993
mk3.events.1994
mk3.events.1995
mk3.events.1996
The files are updated as the data are reviewed. Files for previous years are being added as the data are calibrated and reviewed with the new calibration technique described in this technical note.
To get synoptic maps:
ftp> cd /mk3/map
Mauna Loa coronal synoptic maps are generated from scans at 1.36 and 1.74 solar radii. Calibrated maps are available for Carrington Rotation numbers 1730 to present (calendar years: 1983 to 1996) in binary and postscript formats.
The file ``Synoptic_periods'' gives a listing of Carrington Rotation number by calendar day and year. There are four subdirectories in the map directory:
ftp> ls
INDEX
README
Synoptic_periods
binary/
history/
old/
ps/
The binary and ps (postscript) directories contain the calibrated maps since 1983. Please read the README_BINARY and README_PS files in the respective directories for additional information. IDL routines are available in the binary directory to assist in displaying binary maps and to create and display contour maps.
Older, uncalibrated maps are available for display use in the history subdirectory:
ftp> cd history
ftp> ls
The following files and subdirectories are contained in the history directory:
README
conthist.pro
seehist.pro
mk2_synoptic
mk3_synoptic
Please read the README file containing information on file formats and data history. The ``conthist.pro'' IDL program will create a postscript map of the binary data contained in the mk2_synoptic and mk3_synoptic subdirectories.
To obtain uncalibrated maps of Carrington Rotations 1692 through 1729 (calendar years: 1980 through 1982) type the following:
ftp> mk3_synoptic
Maps taken at 1.36 solar radii are in the ``heightL'' subdirectory and maps at 1.74 solar radii are in the ``heightM'' subdirectory. Each rotation contains 6 files; for example, the data from Carrington Rotation 1700 is contained in the files:
MK1700.ME
MK1700.MEib
MK1700.MEib.X
MK1700.MW
MK1700.MWib
MK1700.MWib.X
where:
MK = Mauna Loa K-Coronameter
1700 = Carrington Rotation Number
M = Mid height (1.74 solar radii)
E = East Limb [ W = West Limb ]
ib = binary format
ib.x = ascii format
Copy and use the ``conthist.pro'' file mentioned above to create a postscript map of these data.
Uncalibrated data of Carrington Rotations 1496 through 1673 (calendar years: 1965 through 1978) are in the mk2_synoptic directory. Maps are generated at 1.36 solar radii only. These data are in the same format as the data in the mk3_synoptic directory. Execute the ``conthist.pro'' IDL routine to generate postscript versions of these maps.
To exit ftp type:
ftp> quit
Questions and suggestions may be directed to:
mlso_data_requests@ncar.ucar.edu