Climate Data Modernization Program

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Climate Data Modernization Program Historical
Solar Observations - L16 (Continuing)
Dataset at Risk NRL archives include a variety
of solar photographic images (left) and spectra
that are not readily accessible by the public.
These data provide a scientific record of the sun
that can be quantitatively compared to current
solar observations. Scope Digitization of solar
observations on film from SKYLAB and HRTS. This
includes UV spectra and images from the S082A B
instruments and 10 HRTS rocket flight as well as
H-alpha images from SKYLAB. Includes scanning
and key-entry of supporting documentation and
observational data.
Large Prominence Eruption Observed By S082A
Instrument on SKYLAB
FY08 Accomplishments Data rescue of daily solar
H-alpha images with pointing information from
SKYLAB was completed. Conversion of SKYLAB data
files from TIFF to FITS format. Over the past 3
years HOV Services (then Lason) has digitized
over 1600 plates of spectral images and 4800 UV
spectra from SKYLAB film, and 4800 H-alpha
images. This is 1.4TB of data available for
scientific studies. User Community
Representatives - Dr. George Doschek, U.S.A. -
Dr. Uri Feldman, U.S.A.
FY09 Activities Digitize solar spectral
observations by the HRTS (High Resolution
Telescope/Spectrograph) from 10 rocket flights
and the Space Shuttle. Scanned spectra and images
will be included in the publicly accessible NRL
SKYLAB data base and made available through the
World Data Center for Solar-Terrestrial Physics
(Boulder) and NGDC. Contractor Funding FY08 65,0
00 FY09 65,000 (requested)
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Solar Cycle Variation of Solar UV Spectrum the
Impact on Climate
Historical Solar Observations (L-16)
Solar UV Spectrum
CDMP Data Rescue Effort
Sun varies over 11-year cycle.
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What did the UV Sun Look Like Years Ago?
Solar Images Data Rescue

• Early sources of solar UV images and spectra are
  difficult to obtain
• Highly useful for comparison with modern day
  scientific studies and observations
• NRL Archives of film from SKYLAB and HRTS
• Original archives not available in electronic
  format
• Space-based observations are required to
  understand variability of solar UV and the impact
  on climate
• TIF scans to be done before degradation of film
  data
• Supporting data listed in books keyed in
• Exposure times, pointing, etc.

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NGDC/NRL Solar Data Rescue
Solar Images Data Rescue
Migration of historical solar UV Skylab
observations on film strips and data books to
digital format with Jeff Morrill, NRL
Full disk solar UV Images
Solar UV spectra 8 per plate

• High resolution solar data (1973-1974)
• S082A UV solar images
• S082B UV spectra
• Supporting data as PDF
• and Key-Entry data
• H-alpha images scanned
• into TIFF files

SKYLAB point information
SKYLAB H-alpha Images

• NRL reviews QC images
• TIFF images online at NRL web site
• Files in archive in TIFF and FITS
• format

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Developments to dateOctober 2008
Solar Images Data Rescue

• Completed scanning of UV solar spectra images
  from SKYLAB (1973-1974)
• Files converted from TIFF to FITS
• Key entry of supporting data complete (exposure
  times, pointing, etc.)
• SKYLAB H-alpha images scanned

Individual SKYLAB spectrum
HRTS film data from 10 rockets flights (1975
1997) and SPACELAB 2 (STS 51F, Challenger, 1985)
transferred to HOV for scanning.
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Current Status of SKYLAB Archive
SKYLAB Instrument S082B Solar Spectral Data
SKYLAB Instrument S082A Solar Image Data
lt- Represents hard drives -gt
344 GB/ 1031 files
364 GB/ 6432 files
Note Dir_info_file will need some updating to
reflect Archive structure.
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Future Processing
Solar Images Data Rescue

• Complete the scanning of HRTS UV spectra and
  Images into TIFF Files (HOV)
• Convert TIFF files to FITS format (NRL)
• Scan supporting flight documentation (HOV)