Data and figures of SuperDARN convection maps

This dataset includes SuperDARN convection maps for the analysis of the 2016-03-11 event. The convection maps are generated through the following steps:

In the first step, we process SuperDARN RAWACF files from all available radars in the Northern Hemisphere using the make_fit routine. The resulting fitacf files contain key physical properties of SuperDARN backscatter, including power, velocity, spectral width, elevation, and associated errors. To enhance the quality of the fitacf files, we employ the fit_speck_removal routine, which effectively eliminates noise and despecks the files. 

In the second step, we generate grid files from the fitacf files. These grid files comprise geo-magnetically located line-of-sight velocity vectors. The make_grid routine is employed with default options to create grid files for all available radars in the northern hemisphere during the specified event intervals. Subsequently, we merge these individual grid files into a consolidated file using the combine_grid routine. 

In the third step, we utilize the MAP POTENTIAL packet to generate the convection map from the grid file. The map_grd routine is used to reformat the grid file into a cnvmap format file, using the default option of AACGM-v2. The map_addimf routine is used to add solar wind OMIN data to the map file. Additionally, the map_addmodel routine calculates the TS18 statistical model (Thomas and Shepherd, 2018), incorporating it into the convection map file with default options. Finally, the map_fit routine, with default options, performs spherical harmonic fitting to generate the final convection map file.

Reference:
Thomas, E. G., and S. G. Shepherd (2018), Statistical patterns of ionospheric convection derived from mid-latitude, high-latitude, and polar SuperDARN HF radar observations, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 123, 3196-3216, doi:10.1002/2018JA025280.