READ_ME FILE FOR THE ATMOSPHERIC EXPLORER (AE) C, D, AND E UNIFIED ABSTRACT
(UA) CD-ROM 

D. Bilitza, N. Papitashvili
May, 1995

[This document is #B44581 in NSSDC's Technical Reference File.] 

This CD-ROM contains the atmospheric/ionospheric data of the AE-C, D, and E
satellites and related atmospheric/ionospheric/magnetospheric models and
software. The data represent the Unified Abstract (UA) 15-sec time resolution
format as originally compiled by the AE team covering the time period 
from December 16, 1973 to June 6, 1981. Also included are solar EUV data 
and reference spectra from the AE EUV spectrometer and latest neutral
atmosphere data as provided by A. Hedin (GSFC).  All files on the 
CD-ROM are in ASCII format. 

The following models are included on the CD-ROM: the International Reference
Ionosphere (IRI) 1994, the COSPAR International Reference Atmosphere (CIRA)
1986, the Mass Spectrometer and Incoherent Scatter (MSIS) thermospheric model
1986, the MSIS Extended [down to ground level] (MSISE) model 1990, the
Horizontal Wind Model (HWM) 1993, the Tobiska solar EUV model, the Inter-
national Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) 1945-1995, and the GEO_CGM
conversion software from geographic to corrected geomagnetic coordinates 
and vice versa. 

Please consult the README and DOC files on the CD-ROM for more information 
about the data and models. General information about the AE-C, -D, and -E 
satellites and experiments and their performance over time can be found in 
the GENERAL.DOC file in the main directory. Details of the CD-ROM structure 
and content are described in the CONTENT.DOC file.               

The CD also contains the experiment/data descriptions provided by the 
respective PI teams and the satellite/experiment brief descriptions from 
NSSDC's Master Catalog (see directory AEDOC). The AEDOC directory includes 
in addition a 150 page listing of scientific papers based on AE data 
(ordered by experiment and name of first author).

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		SUBSETTING AND PLOTTING SOFTWARE

Retrieval and visualization software is available for this CD-ROM. The 
software is menu driven was developed for an MS-DOS environment. The user 
can create a subset of the data by specifying any combination of the AE 
parameters (experiment and orbit data) and IRI/MSIS model parameters and 
by specifying a desired time interval. After the user has made her/his 
selection, an ASCII file holding the requested data will be created. A 
companion file will describe the format of the new ASCII data file.

The selected data can be also displayed graphically in a series of plot panels. 
There are self-explanatory scale and display options including also display in 
a log-scale and a selection of different colors.

The MS-DOS software is invoked through AE.EXE. When first run, AE.EXE 
requests the user to enter the CD-ROM drive letter. If a wrong letter has 
been entered, or it is desired to change the CD-ROM drive designation, the 
LETTER file should be deleted. AE.EXE will create a new LETTER file and 
also a LCOLOR file to specify the selected color displays. 

The data format and the software is described also in the DOC files in the
AE_C, AE_D, and AE_E directories on the CD-ROM. The MS-DOS software can be 
provided on floppy disk or can be retrieved from NSSDC's anonymous ftp site 
at nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov in directory CDROM/Software/DOS. All necessary
files are included in the self-extracting file AE_Z.EXE .

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                   INFORMATION ABOUT THE CD-ROM
                      
    The CD-ROM was conceived, organized, and built at the National Space 
  Science Data Center (NSSDC), NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, in 
  Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, U.S.A. by Natalia Papitashvili, Dieter 
  Bilitza, and Joseph King. 
                       
  Project definition and guidance:
                                Joseph H. King  
                           
  Data processing and supporting software:
                                Natalia E. Papitashvili
                       
  Project and data documentation:
                       D. Bilitza, N.E. Papitashvili, J. H. King
                                     
  ACKNOWLEDGMENT: We thank Alan E. Hedin, William D. Pesnell, Joseph M. 
  Grebowsky, and Walter R. Hoegy of Goddard's Planetary Atmospheres 
  Branch for their support in providing the data.
                                   
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  The  AE CD-ROM  can  be ordered from the Coordinated Request and User 
  Support Office (CRUSO) at  NSSDC, which will also respond to any 
  questions about the CD-ROM.
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  Mail address:                                
       Coordinated Request and User Support Office (CRUSO)
       National Space Science Data Center
       Code 633
       NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
       Greenbelt, MD  20771
       U.S.A.
                                                
  E-mail:  NCF::REQUEST                  (NSI/DECnet)
           REQUEST@NSSDCA.GSFC.NASA.GOV  (Internet, Bitnet)
  Phone: (301) 286-6695
  FAX:   (301) 286-1771                  
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