Indices of Global Geomagnetic Activity

Geomagnetic `Kp` Index

The planetary three-hour-range Kp index was introduced by J. Bartels in 1949 and is derived from the standardized K index (Ks) of 13 magnetic observatories. It is designed to measure solar particle radiation by its magnetic effects.

Musical `Kp` Diagram

The most popular representation of the Kp indices is in form of the Bartels musical diagram (musical scales).

Geomagnetic `ap`, `Ap`, `Cp` and `C9` Indices

The geomagnetic ap, Ap, Cp and C9 indices and the classification of international Q-days and D-days are derived from the Kp index.

Related Indices

Km is an index similar to Kp, except for the different number and selection of stations and the method of averaging. The indices am and Am are similar to ap and Ap. Km, am and Am are evaluated at l'Institut de Physique du Globe in Paris, France.

References

J. Bartels, The technique of scaling indices K and Q of geomagnetic activity,
Ann. Intern. Geophys. Year 4, 215-226, 1957;
J. Bartels,The geomagnetic measures for the time-variations of solar corpuscular radiation, described for use in correlation studies in other geophysical fields,
Ann. Intern. Geophys. Year 4, 227-236, 1957;
M. Siebert, Maßzahlen der erdmagnetischen Aktivität,
in Handbuch der Physik, vol. 49/3, 206-275, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, 1971;
for the description of several indices (in German);
M. Siebert and J. Meyer, Geomagnetic Activity Indices,
in The Upper Atmosphere (Eds. W. Dieminger et al.), 887-911, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, 1996;
for an updated version of the German reference;
P.N. Mayaud, Derivation, Meaning and Use of Geomagnetic Indices,
Geophysical Monograph 22, Am. Geophys. Union, Washington D.C., 1980;
for a complete review of the present IAGA indices;
G.K. Rangarajan, Indices of magnetic activity,
in Geomagnetism, edited by I.A. Jacobs, Academic, San Diego, 1989;
M. Menvielle and A. Berthelier, The K-derived planetary indices: description and availability,
Rev. Geophys. 29, 3, 415-432, 1991.

Sources of `Kp` and derived indices

Beginning January 1997:
GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam
Adolf-Schmidt-Observatorium für Geomagnetismus
Lindenstraße 7
D-14823 Niemegk
Germany
- E-mail distribution (contact Dr. H.-J. Linthe, mailto:kp_index@gfz-potsdam.de)
- FTP server (two-weekly update)
- IUGG/IAGA International Service of Geomagnetic Indices (monthly letter)
Ending January 1997:
Institut für Geophysik
Universität Göttingen
Postfach 2341
D-37013 Göttingen
Germany
World Data Center C1 for Geomagnetism
Danish Meteorological Institute
Lyngbyvej 100
DK-2100 Copenhagen OE
Denmark
- FTP server (two-weekly update)
World Data Center A for Solar-Terrestrial Physics
325 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80303-3328
U.S.A.
- FTP server: ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/GEOMAGNETIC_DATA/INDICES/KP_AP/
  (monthly update)
- Solar-Geophysical Data Reports (monthly)
  Editor: Helen E. Coffey (hec@ngdc.noaa.gov)
- Solar Indices Bulletin (prompt monthly report)
- Magnetic tapes and CD-ROMs
National Space Science Data Center
7701 Greenbelt Rd.
Suite 400
Greenbelt, MD 20770
U.S.A.
- OMNIWeb (WWW-based data retrieval and analysis system)
- Solar-Terrestrial Indices on CD-ROM, Diskette and Tape
IAGA Bulletin No. 32 (yearly compilation, irregular publication date)

Structure of the FTP sites

Historical and current Kp are supplied by the International Service of Geomagnetic Indices. Calculation and distribution of the indices are now performed by the GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam. Two anonymous FTP servers with identical structure are available:

Denmark: ftp://ftp.dmi.min.dk/pub/Data/WDCC1/indices/kp-ap/

Germany: ftp://ftp.gfz-potsdam.de/pub/home/obs/kp-ap/

( WWW access: http://www.gfz-potsdam.de/pub/home/obs/kp-ap/ )

Note: FTP sites may refuse connections due to excessive traffic.
Your mileage may vary with a different FTP program.

The kp-ap/ directory contains

readme.txt (text file): A plain text copy of the Geomagnetic Indices WWW page.
music.exe (binary executable file): A PC executable program for 386 or higher machines. music.exe reads Kp/ap values in WDC format and produces a PostScript file with Bartels Kp music diagram. Download music.exe using binary mode! The data file ssc.dat is also required to run music.exe.
ssc.dat (text data file): List of sudden commencements (ssc), partly preliminary.
tab/ (subdirectory): contains the monthly Kp/ap tables in a simple text format readable for both humans and computers (*.tab). The file tab_fmt.doc provides a format description. The tables distributed by regular mail (PostScript format) are also provided in this directory.
wdc/ (subdirectory): contains the monthly (respectively yearly) Kp/ap tables and much more information in condensed tables (ASCII format). The format is nearly identical to the format of Kp/ap tables distributed by the World Data Center A for Solar-Terrestrial Physics. The file wdc_fmt.doc provides a format description. This format does not contain any information on the quiet and most disturbed days as the tables in the tab directory do.
music/ (subdirectory): contains the Kp values in the Bartels musical diagram (PostScript format), which is very helpful in visualizing the indices.
quietdst/ (subdirectory): contains tables of the quietest and most disturbed days for all months since Jan 1932. (Values since 1900 also supplied, use with caution.)
kp-freq/ (subdirectory): contains tables of frequencies of Kp indices.
ap_monyr.ave (text file): A table with monthly and yearly averages of Ap.

Related WWW Servers

For questions concerning specific data or the contents of this page, please contact:

Kevin Ivory, mailto:Kevin.Ivory@linmpi.mpg.de

Indices of Global Geomagnetic Activity

Geomagnetic Kp Index

Musical Kp Diagram

Geomagnetic ap, Ap, Cp and C9 Indices