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------------------------------------ USERS MANUAL FOR THE KGRAPH SOFTWARE ------------------------------------ Version 1.01 - Copyright 1992 Solar Terrestrial Dispatch CONTENTS -------- INTRODUCTION SELECTING DATES OF DATA TO GRAPH THREE-DIMENSIONAL GRAPHICS FUNCTIONS OF KGRAPH PRODUCING HIGH-DENSITY K-INDEX DATA PLOTS USING KGRAPH USING THE HIGH-DENSITY DATA PLOTS TO DETERMINE RECURRENCE AND OTHER PHENOMENA * New Sections Inserted Here - See Below * EXITING KGRAPH AND RETURNING TO DOS New Sections to this Manual for Version 1.01 -------------------------------------------- SWITCHING KGRAPH TO USE 27 OR 28 DAY SOLAR ROTATIONAL CYCLES SAVING SCREEN IMAGES TO GIF-IMAGE OR POSTSCRIPT FORMATTED FILES VIEWING A-INDICES AND K-INDICES TOGETHER SETTING DEFAULTS USING THE BCAST.INI ACRONYMS INTRODUCTION The daily Solar Geophysical Data Broadcast (SGDB) reports released by the Solar Terrestrial Dispatch contain a large amount of information regarding the state of solar and geophysical activity. In the past, the only software which permitted manipulation of this data was the BCAST software program. However, this software lacks the ability to chart and track the geomagnetic K-index information. The geomagnetic K-index rates geomagnetic activity on a scale between 0 (very quiet) and 9 (very disturbed). The index is based on an open-ended quasi-logarithmic algorithm and is measured once every three hours by magnetic observatories around the world. Generally, K-indices greater than 5 indicate major to severe geomagnetic storm conditions. K-indices of 4 or less indicate active to quiet conditions. The geomagnetic K-index is very important to persons such as radio communicators who rely on the geomagnetically-sensitive ionosphere to transmit and receive radio signals. Quiet levels of geomagnetic activity usually produce very good and stable radio communications. Active levels of geomagnetic activity can begin to introduce minor instabilities in radio communications such as rapid fading or flutter and increased directionality. Minor geomagnetic storming (K-indices of 5) and particularly major geomagnetic storming (K-indices of 6) can significantly impair the propagation of radio signals through the ionosphere. Severe geomagnetic storming (K-indices of 7 or more) can produce radio blackout conditions for many middle, high, and polar latitude regions. The level of geomagnetic activity is therefore a very important parameter which must be considered when used in conjunction with radio communications. K-indices are also very important to persons watching for auroral activity. Major to severe storm level excursions of the geomagnetic K-index is often associated with visible levels of auroral activity over the lower latitude regions. People who are interested in attempting to forecast the level of geomagnetic activity into the future will find detailed records of K-indices extremely valuable. Solar phenomena which can influence geomagnetic activity for several solar rotations (ex. such as stable coronal holes) can be identified through records of K-index geomagnetic activity. Knowing when enhanced geomagnetic activity has occurred in the past enables one to determine when it might occur in the future, since the Sun rotates approximately once every 27 days. KGRAPH is a powerful program designed to exploit the detailed K-index information which is stored in your BCAST database file ("datasets.dat"). It will examine and display K-index information in useful graphical detail using the power of your computers VGA graphics system. KGRAPH will produce three-dimensional graphs of geomagnetic activity in a variety of formats. It will graph either the geomagnetic Boulder K-Index (from Boulder, Colorado) or the estimated Planetary K-Index information which is stored in your database file. The three-dimensional graphs are very useful for analyzing episodes of activity relative to neighboring periods of activity. It is also visually impressive and easy to interpret. KGRAPH will produce detailed high-density VGA-quality graphical plots of Boulder or Planetary K-Index data. These graphical plots of activity let you easily determine the cyclical behavior of geomagnetic activity. As much as eight solar rotations worth of K-index data can be viewed on-screen at one time. This is equivalent to 216 days worth of data, or 1,728 three-hour interval periods. The plots also indicate days in which major flare activity occurred, or days where interplanetary disturbances arrived and produced sudden magnetic impulses. These features can be used to help you determine which episodes of activity may have been flare-induced. In addition, the plotting method employed by KGRAPH lets you visually determine, quickly and easily, periods of activity which were associated with major or severe storming. Overall, KGRAPH is a powerful visual aid package intended to exploit the large amount of geomagnetic information contained in the BCAST-maintained database file. It requires the BCAST-maintained database file "datasets.dat" to operate. Registration of the BCAST software program is therefore manditory for anyone who wants to use KGRAPH (see the file "REGISTER.DOC" for more information). For those who have already registered the BCAST software, KGRAPH can immediately be used to examine the large base of K-index information archived in your database file. SELECTING DATES OF DATA TO GRAPH Each of the graphical functions supported by KGRAPH first ask you to type in the date of the last dataset to display on-screen. By default, when you first start up KGRAPH, the date of the last dataset in your database file will be displayed. If this is the date you wish to use, simply press ENTER. If the default date is not what you want to use, type in the appropriate date (using the given format) and press ENTER. Thereafter, the default date becomes the last valid date you typed in. THREE-DIMENSIONAL GRAPHICS FUNCTIONS OF KGRAPH KGRAPH provides eight three-dimensional graphics functions to display K-index data in a variety of ways. These eight functions are described below: 1. KGRAPH can produce a three-dimensional graph of Boulder K-Indices U with dates descending from the bottom of the screen to the top B N of the screen. That is, the date of the data at the "front" of O S the three-dimensional graph would be the most recent date U O graphed. L R D T 2. KGRAPH will generate a three-dimensional graph of Boulder E E K-Indices with dates ascending from the bottom of the screen to R D the top of the screen. In this case, the date of the data at the front of the graph would be the oldest date on-screen. The most K recent date would be at the "back" of the graph, behind the rest. I N 3. KGRAPH will sort the Boulder K-Index data and graph the data in D three-dimensional format in ascending order. Sorting is done by E simply summing the eight three-hour K-index values for each day X S and sorting the summed values. The resulting graph displays the O quietest days at the front of the graph and the most disturbed D R days at the end of the graph. A T T E 4. KGRAPH will sort the Boulder K-indices and graph the data in A D descending order. In this case, the graph shows the quietest days at the end of the graph and the most disturbed days at the front of the graph. U 5. KGRAPH will generate three-dimensional graphs of the estimated P N planetary geomagnetic K-indices in order of descending dates. L S This graph is identical to #1 above, except the K-indices used A O are the estimated planetary data as opposed to the Boulder data. N R E T 6. KGRAPH will generate graphs of planetary K-indices in order of T E ascending dates. This graph functions the same as #2 above, A D except planetary data is used. R Y 7. KGRAPH will sort the estimated planetary (global) geomagnetic S K-indices in ascending order. Graphs of these sorted indices D O are identical to function #3 given above, except planetary A R K-indices are used. T T A E 8. KGRAPH will sort the estimated planetary K-indices in descending D order. These three-dimensional graphs are identical to the graphs produced by function #4, except planetary data is used. The purpose of producing three-dimensional graphs in orders of ascending and descending dates is to change the viewing angle of the display. Since the graphed data is three-dimensional, producing graphs in descending or ascending order may aid in "unblocking" areas which were previously blocked from view. For example, a day which has high K-indices will will produce three-dimensional graph lines which may block out data behind the date with the high K values. By using these functions to view the data in a different order, you may be able to see what is behind the three dimensional "wall" of high K-indices. While viewing these three-dimensional graphs, you can instruct KGRAPH to redraw the data in a "slow mode". To accomplish this, press the "S" key to toggle between the fast and slow modes while viewing graphs of data. While in the slow mode, KGRAPH will redraw the screen one date at a time, pausing in-between dates and waiting for a keypress. Using this feature, you can carefully examine each date of data. To view the next date of data, press any key on your keyboard. KGRAPH will respond by drawing the next series of K-indices, pausing after the next group of eight has been drawn. After all of the indices have been drawn on-screen, you can switch back to the "fast mode" by pressing "S" again. Version 1.01 of KGRAPH contains two additional features which can be invoked by pressing the "G" and/or "P" keys. Pressing "G" forces KGRAPH to create a GIF image file of the screen you are currently viewing. Pressing "P" forces KGRAPH to create a Postscript-compatible screen image file which, when sent to a postscript-compatible printer (such as a laser printer), will produce a copy of the screen image on paper. See the section on "Saving Screen Images" for more information. To exit back to the main menu, press any key other than "S", "G", or "P". PRODUCING HIGH-DENSITY K-INDEX DATA PLOTS USING KGRAPH The second and third-last options of the main menu engage powerful utilities for viewing large quantities of K-index data on-screen at one time. One option produces a high-density plot of Boulder K-Index data. The other main menu option generates a high-density plot of estimated Planetary (global) geomagnetic K-Index data. Both of these functions produce graphs with identical formats. The only difference is the data which is used. Boulder K-Index data is generally valid for middle latitude regions near Boulder Colorado. The Planetary K-indices represent estimated global levels of geomagnetic activity and may be more reliable characteristics of global activity. The high-density plots use the high-resolution of the VGA graphics system to produce easily interpreted high-quality graphs of contiguous activity for up to eight consecutive solar rotations. As much as 1,728 data points may be plotted on-screen at one time for analysis. The structural format of these high-density graphical plots is described as follows. Up to eight horizontal rows of the screen are used to graph the data. Each horizontal group of graphed K-indices represents one solar rotation (approximately 27 days). Each horizontal segment of data is divided into 26 days and each of these days are labelled. The month of the first date encountered on each horizontal row is displayed adjacent to the horizontal row. Each horizontal row is composed of a series of vertical lines which depict the K-indices being graphed. A sample ASCII representation of one day (eight vertical lines) of K-index data follows below: _o__o__o_ F _o__|__|__|_ E _o__|__|__|_*#* B _o__|__|__|__|_*#* /-<-- Next day of data starts _o__|__|__|__|_*#**#* / on this boundary o__|__|__|__|__|_*#**#*_\/_____________________ | 1 4 | 1 5 | Each vertical line (with a "dot" on top) represents one K-index value. K-Indices are defined as follows: _o__o__o__o_*#* _o__|__|__|_*#**#* _o__|__|__|_*#**#**#* _o__|__|__|__|_*#**#**#* _o__|__|__|__|_*#**#**#**#* o__|__|__|__|__|_*#**#**#**#* /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || || 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 K - I N D I C E S This method of graphing K-indices has several notable advantages over straight linear graphing. First, the graph line is effectively compressed in vertical extent, allowing a larger number of horizontal segments to be fit on-screen at one time. Second, determination of the value of each K-index point is easily accomplished by counting the horizontal divisions. And finally, visual determination of major to severe storm periods is easily accomplished simply by examining which graph lines are "filled in" (see K-indices 6 through 9 in the graph above). KGRAPH significantly enhances the visibility of major storm periods by "filling in" these intervals with the color red. This easily distinguishes major storm periods from active or quiet periods when viewing the data on-screen. Also, KGRAPH color-codes the dates of the data as follows: DATE COLOR: RED = One or more Major Flares occurred on this date. YELLOW = A Sudden Magnetic Impulse (SI) occurred on this date. MAGENTA = Both a Sudden Magnetic Impulse AND a Major Flare(s) occurred on this date. WHITE = No Major Flares or Sudden Magnetic Impulses occurred. This scheme for identifying days where major flares occurred is useful when attempting to determine which periods of geomagnetic activity may have been influenced by major flaring. This is particularly valuable when searching for recurrent geomagnetic patterns caused by stable coronal holes. By ignoring the periods of activity which may have been enhanced by major flaring, you can better identify the recurrent patterns attributed to coronal holes. When looking for flare-induced enhancements in geomagnetic activity, keep in mind that increases in geomagnetic activity typically do not occur until after approximately 24 to 48 hours (up to possibly 72 hours) from the onset of the major flare. It usually takes this long for the plasma cloud to traverse the distance from the Sun to the Earth. Also, not all major flares produce enhancements in geomagnetic activity. In fact, only a relatively small percentage are geoeffective. However, knowing which dates are associated with major flares helps to eliminate uncertainties when analyzing the recurrent patterns of geomagnetic activity. The identification of days when sudden magnetic impulses occur is very useful during the analysis of the high-density data plots. Since sudden magnetic impulses are produced by the arrival of interplanetary shockwaves (such as those which are spawned by major flares), it is possible to determine which episodes of activity were produced by the arrival of interplanetary shocks. Coronal holes are not usually associated with sudden magnetic impulses. The enhancements in geomagnetic activity produced by well placed solar coronal holes are most often gradual in nature. USING THE HIGH-DENSITY DATA PLOTS TO DETERMINE RECURRENCE AND OTHER PHENOMENA To use the high-density data plots properly, you must keep in mind that each horizontal row of data represents one solar rotation. Since eight rows may be stacked on top of one another, searching for recurrent patterns is as simple as scanning vertically down the rows of data. Periods of recurrent enhancements in geomagnetic activity will be discerned as consistent increases in K-indices over periods of between 2 or more solar rotations (which is displayed on-screen as two or more horizontal rows spaced vertically above and below each other). Since many coronal holes are constantly evolving and changing in structure, shape, and spatial extent, some deviations from the above may be observed. For example, if a coronal hole which enhances geomagnetic activity during one solar rotation expands in size or becomes elongated in an east-west direction, enhancements in geomagnetic activity may be observed a few days earlier or later than would be expected if the coronal hole remained in the same position and retained the same spatial characteristics. The amplitude of the recurrent enhancement may also differ quite considerably from one solar rotation to the next. As we continue to decline from the solar maximum toward the solar minimum, coronal hole stability and geoeffectiveness will increase which will make identification and prediction of recurrent periods easier using the high-density plot functions of KGRAPH. Recurrent phenomena is not limited to enhancements of geomagnetic activity. Indeed, recurrent quiet intervals are also frequently observed. In fact, these quiet intervals are often easier to discern than recurrent enhancements of activity due to coronal holes. The same method of identifying recurrent enhancements of activity applies to the identification of recurrent quiet periods. Simply scan the high-density graphs of K-index data vertically between the horizontal rows of data. Consistent and consecutive periods of low K-indices are typically associated with recurrent quiet intervals. These are often the best periods for radio communicators, since low levels of geomagnetic activity can support very stable and reliable ionospheric communications. Since active solar regions responsible for major flares also rotate with periods of approximately 26-28 days, it is possible to determine potential future influences of energetic active solar regions on the geomagnetic field. This is less reliable than determining recurrence for coronal holes since active regions are much more dynamic and change more rapidly than coronal holes. Although most solar regions fail to survive two solar rotations, and still fewer remain energetic enough to affect terrestrial geomagnetic activity over two rotations, the odd ones do and may be capable of producing recurrent enhancements in geomagnetic activity if they remain energetic for that length of time. Finally, these high-density graphs may also be used to help determine periods of enhanced auroral activity. Since auroral activity is tied closely to levels of geomagnetic activity, it is often possible to determine the potential visibility of future auroral activity simply by determining recurrent patterns of geomagnetic activity. K-indices of six or more are typically required before auroral activity becomes visible over widespread areas. K-indices of 7 or more may produce visible auroral activity over the lower latitude regions. To be most accurate in making predictions, it is important to remember the influence of lunar phase on visible levels of auroral activity. However, since the moon also has a period similar to the solar rotation period of 27 days, the phase of the moon should be approximately the same between vertical rows of the high density graphs. This serves to improve the usefulness of this data, even beyond what has already been discussed. SWITCHING KGRAPH TO USE 27 OR 28 DAY SOLAR ROTATIONAL CYCLES Version 1.01 of KGRAPH lets you select the length of the solar rotational cycle you wish to use when displaying the high-density geomagnetic K-index data plots. By pressing "7", KGRAPH selects 27-day solar rotational cycle intervals. By pressing "8", KGRAPH uses 28-day solar cycle intervals. This additional flexibility is useful when analyzing which cycle interval yields the best alignment with recurrent activity. When displaying the graphs of geomagnetic activity over many solar rotations, you will notice that the flow of dates from the left to the right is contiguous (provided you do not have any missing datasets in your database). You may also notice that the dates between the end of one horizontal row and the beginning of the next horizontal row are NOT contiguous. In short, you may notice that one or two days are skipped between the end of one graph line and the beginning of the next. This peculiarity is required in order to ensure that each horizontal graph of data is properly aligned to coincide with the solar rotation period of 27-28 days. The number of days skipped at the end of each horizontal row is dependent on whether you have set up KGRAPH to display the K-index data using 27 or 28 day solar cycles. If KGRAPH is set up to display 27 day cycles, only one day is skipped at the end of each graphed row of K-indices. If you select to display 28 day cycles, two days will be skipped at the end of each row. Also, version 1.01 of KGRAPH also lets you shift the last row of data to the left by 14 days by pressing the "S" key (to "S"hift the screen). In older versions of KGRAPH, a full eight solar rotations of data were displayed. Due to the inability of KGRAPH to fit a full 27 or 28 days of data on one row of graphed data (only 26-days per row can be displayed), it was much more difficult to determine the possible influence of recurrence during intervals 24 to 48 hours into the future because these dates were hidden from view in order to maintain proper rotational cycle alignment. In version 1.01, you are given the option to display eight full solar rotations, or 7.5 solar rotation. Shifting the screen to display 7.5 solar rotations lets you see the data which was previously hidden at the end of each row and lets you determine possible imminent influences of recurrent activity. The "S" key acts as a toggle. To exit the high-density K-index graphs of geomagnetic activity, simply press any key. SAVING SCREEN IMAGES TO GIF-IMAGE OR POSTSCRIPT FORMATTED FILES Version 1.01 of KGRAPH has the ability to save screen images to disk files. KGRAPH supports two types of image files: GIF formatted image files and Postscript formatted image files. GIF (or Graphical Image Format) files are one of the most popular types of image formats in use today. There are numerous GIF image viewing software packages available from other software vendors which can be used to display the images saved in this format. To convert any of the VGA graphical screens produced by KGRAPH into a GIF image file, press the "G" (for "G"IF) key while viewing the graphic screens. By default, KGRAPH will store the image in a file named "screen.gif" in your current working directory. If you have a laser printer capable of handling Postscript-formatted files, you can create a Postscript compatible file which can be printed on your Postscript printer. To create a Postscript compatible copy of the VGA screens, press the "P" (for "P"ostscript) key while viewing any of the graphic screens generated by KGRAPH. By default, KGRAPH will store the image in a Postscript file named "screen.ps" in your current working directory. Postscript files generated in this manner are rather large in size (around 500K) due to the required conversion from a binary bit-mapped format to an ascii bit-mapped format. KGRAPH lets you monitor the progress of the conversion to either GIF or Postscript formats. VIEWING A-INDICES AND K-INDICES TOGETHER While viewing the high-density geomagnetic K-index data plots, you can force KGRAPH to redraw the display so all of the dates are replaced with the appropriate A-indices. This useful feature lets you display both K-index and A-index information on-screen at the same time. This is a powerful feature when used to search for episodes of recurrent coronal-hole related activity. To display the A-index data, simply press the "A" (for "A"-Indices) key while viewing the high-density data plots. This key acts as a toggle. Press it a second time to replace the A-indices with the corresponding dates. The default is to display the dates. However, you can change the default by inserting the "AINDEX-SHOW" acronym in the BCAST.INI initialization file (see below for more information regarding the acronym definitions). SETTING DEFAULTS USING THE BCAST.INI ACRONYMS KGRAPH now supports numerous default settings through the BCAST.INI initialization file. Each time KGRAPH is executed, it searches for the BCAST.INI file (using either the current directory or the path defined by the environment variable "BCAST") and processes it if it exists. Version 1.02 of the BCAST software package includes support for numerous additional acronyms to control the behavior of KGRAPH. These acronyms are described below. "CYCLES 27" - Instructs KGRAPH to display the high-density geomagnetic K-index data plots using 27-day cycles. "CYCLES 28" - Instructs KGRAPH to display the high-density geomagnetic K-index data plots using 28-day cycles. "SHIFT-ON" - Forces KGRAPH to shift the last plotted high-density geomagnetic K-index line left 14-days to simplify detection of imminent recurrent periods. "SHIFT-OFF" - Instructs KGRAPH to display eight full solar rotations of geomagnetic K-index data. "GIF-FILENAME" - Sets the default filename to save screen images to when processing screen images into GIF image files. The predefined name is "screen.gif". The parameter following this acronym may also include a full path name. "PS-FILENAME" - Sets the default filename to save screen images to when processing screen images into Postscript-compatible image files. The predefined name is "screen.ps". The parameter following this acronym may also include a full path name. "IMAGE-COLOR" - (or, "IMAGE-COLOUR") Forces KGRAPH to generate full-color GIF image or Postscript formatted files. Note that Postscript files generated in full color will likely be dithered on two-color (B & W) Postscript printers. "IMAGE-NOCOLOR" - (or, "IMAGE-NOCOLOUR") Forces KGRAPH to generate black and white (black background and white foreground) GIF or Postscript images when either the "G" or "P" keys are pressed while viewing graphic images. "IMAGE-INVERSE" - Instructs KGRAPH to produce black and white images (inversed, with a WHITE background and BLACK foreground) when either the "G" or "P" keys are pressed. In order for this acronym to have any effect, the "IMAGE-NOCOLOR" acronym must precede this acronym. This is usually the preferred mode to use when saving images that are to be printed out on two-color (black and white) printers. "IMAGE-NOINVERSE"-This final acronym forces KGRAPH not to inverse screen images. It is, of course, the opposite of "IMAGE-INVERSE". "AINDEX-SHOW" - Forces KGRAPH to display (by default) A-indices instead of (in place of) the dates when viewing the high-density geomagnetic K-index data plots. "AINDEX-NOSHOW" - Forces KGRAPH to display the dates instead of the A-indices when viewing the high-density data plots. Although the definitions above were all in upper-case lettering, KGRAPH will process the acronyms in either upper, lower, or mixed case. Consult the "BCAST.INI" file for examples of how these acronyms are used and for a full description of all of the available acronyms. EXITING KGRAPH AND RETURNING TO DOS To return to DOS at the main menu of KGRAPH, either select the "Exit Program" function of KGRAPH, press the associated menu letter ('K'), or press the ESCape key.