I recently began searching for wave data.  I was specifically looking for magnetic wave velocities, lengths and frequencies or any type of related data (such as electric field perturbations).  I spent a good amount of time researching all of the satellites through NASA and the ESA (European Space Agency) and occasionally Japan's ISAS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science) websites, trying to familiarize myelf with different satellites and their instruments.  This was quite difficult since each instrument is built and used by at least one other group (usually a university) which maintain their own websites detailing the instrument parameters and data archives.

A summary of my preliminary satellite search can be found here.

I decided to focus on the Polar satellite's plasma wave instrument (PWI). But with the help of Dr. Kristine Sigsbee at the University of Iowa, I found out that this instrument would not provide data in the auroral region. Eventually, I made contact with the principle investigator of the FAST (Fast Auroral SnapshoT Explorer) satellite, Dr. Charles Chaston. He informed me that FAST should provide wave data in the auroral region.

At times, it was very frustrating trying to find what I was looking for. There were many dead links or very outdated websites, for all of the satellites that I was investigating. Often the simpler questions, such as "does this satellite collect data in the auroral region?" turned out to be the most difficult to answer. This will definitely be useful to know in the future. I will certainly be more likely to contact people involved earlier in my searching, as this turned out to be the most fruitful method.

Back to Future Research

How are aurorae created?
Can we hear the aurorae?
Wave transformation on the Sun
What is ß?
How can a magnetic wave transform into an acoustic wave?
Does ß=1 anywhere in Earth’s atmosphere?
Continuing research