The Precipitating Electron Detectors (SSJ/3) for the Block 5D/ Flights 2-5 DMSP Satellites Calibration and Data Presentation

In addition to weather monitoring devices, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites currently have on-board auroral imaging devices, precipitating electron detectors, and thermal plasma analyzers. Together these provide a strong tool for analyzing the high latitude, near earth, magnetospheric environment. The program is planned to continue into the 1980s. The precipitating electrons are measured in 16 energy channels spanning an energy of 50 eV to 20 keV. The data have the potential of providing real-time monitoring of auroral activity through oval boundary measurements. To facilitate the use of these data and to examine the feasibility of making consistent, reliable boundary measurements, this report has been prepared. It contains the following: a general description of the DMSP-F2 orbit, its variations in universal time and season, and the pertinence of these variations to boundary measurements, a description of the SSJ/3 pakcage, one of which is built for each of four DMSP satellites and the results of calibrating two of the instruments; a discussion of the way data is processed; a comparison of Northpole-Southpole passes during a magnetospherically quiet period and during an active period, and a discussion of the general features of the electron precipitation as they may be used to determine auroral boundaries.