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Russia Reports in


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Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems VI
ASP Conference Series, Vol. 125, 1997
Editors: Gareth Hunt and H. E. Payne

IDL Library Developed in the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics (Irkutsk, Russia)

S. K. Konovalov, A. T. Altyntsev, V. V. Grechnev, E. G. Lisysian, and G. V. Rudenko
Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Lermontov St. 126, Irkutsk, Russia 664033, E-mail: root@sitmis.irkutsk.su

A. Magun
Institute of Applied Physics, University of Bern, Switzerland, 3012 Bern Sidlerstrasse 5, E-mail: magun@sun.iap.unibe.ch

Abstract:

We process and analyze data provided by the SSRT interferometer using IDL. Thanks to the well-known capabilities of IDL, this has expedited our research. Special requirements, convenience, and efficiency led us to the creation of an expanding library of IDL routines and programs, described herein.

1. Introduction

We have been processing and analyzing data provided by the Siberian Solar Radio Telescope (SSRT) (Smolkov et al. 1986). Much of these data required development of special techniques for processing and previewing. Using the well-known capabilities of IDL, we were able to speed up our research. However, a variety of routines had to be developed due to the specific needs of our research and the features of our instrument, as well as our desire to make processing still more convenient and efficient. Having started this work in collaboration with the Institute of Applied Physics (Bern), we continued it in Irkutsk. Coming up with our own IDL installation allowed us to expedite our work. As a result, a whole set of routines and programs supporting our programming has emerged (Konovalov et al. 1997). This set contains special routines for our use, as well as routines which could be of common interest. This library is being currently expanded.

2. Overview

In response to inherently specific features of our instrument, the SSRT, and to our research needs and preferences, we have developed, supplemented, and corrected some routines from the standard IDL library. Since our IDL library contains more than 100 routines and functions, we can present here only an overview of these routines, classifying them by category, and briefly describing their capabilities. The routines can be used on UNIX and MS Windows platforms, and all can be run under IDL 3.0.1 or later versions.

3. General Routines and Functions

These routines and functions were written for specific needs, but could be generally useful:


String-type variables manipulation: We have added functions which allow (i) finding a given substring in a string, (ii) replacing it with a given model of arbitrary length, and (iii) splitting a string containing any delimiter (e.g., whitespace) into substrings.


Files and file names manipulation: These routines provide: (i) conversion of text files between UNIX and MS Windows; (ii) adding an End-Of-File marker; (iii) extracting a short file name, extension, file name without extension, and directory name from the full path name; (iv) automatically recognizing the type of some graphics files (GIF, TIFF, BMP, or FITS); (v) creating a new file name, given a wildcarded pattern; (vi) an interactive tool for deleting a file, etc.


Mathematical functions: We have developed routines for rapidly evaluating some often-required functions: (i) SIGN and SINC (sin x/x); (ii) recognizing even numbers; and (iii) calculating the Gaussian function. Furthermore, some operations for array manipulation have been implemented: (i) conversion of 1-D subscripts into 2-D; (ii) extracting subarrays; and (iii) searching for coinciding elements in different arrays.


Graphics windows manipulation: We have developed routines expanding the standard IDL tools with the following capabilities: (i) bringing all existing graphics windows to the front; (ii) deleting all existing graphics windows; (iii) displaying current cursor coordinates within a selected graphics window; (iv) saving and restoring scaling of the axes in a given window; and (v) converting a cursor into another shape.


Plotting routines: We have developed the routines which: (i) plot a graph versus time expressed in hours, minutes, and seconds; (ii) plot a graph of a fragmented array; (iii) plot a straight line of a given slope crossing a given point; (iv) plot a given arc or circle; (v) overplot a triangle-shaped marker onto a plot or image; (vi) display an array in the brightness representation enclosed by axes; and (vii) provide a box-shaped cursor for widget-based programs, etc.


Curve analysis: The developed routines allow (i) finding (and, if needed, marking on the plot) local extremes; (ii) selecting a local peak; (iii) calculating its width; (iv) finding the circle passing through three given points; and (v) finding a line bounding a given fast-oscillating curve (similar to the detection of a radio signal).


Graphics file manipulation and image processing: We use FITS files, so we have routines to handle the headers (searching for a keyword and returning the corresponding value, extracting of time and date from the header, etc.). We can automatically recognize the type of some graphics files (GIF, TIFF, BMP, or FITS) and display them on the screen. Routines were developed to interactively measure the coordinates of the solar disk's center and radius, and to save the image contained in a graphics file into a FITS file. There is also a routine converting a plot obtained from an image into a digital array, which can be saved for further processing.


Viewers: Some viewers have been developed for the SSRT data, as well as for the standard format graphics or digital files. There is an interactive array viewer which allows looking at data in various representation (wire-mesh surface, shaded surface, halftone image, contour, and their combinations), measuring profiles in two directions, and reading pixel values. Contour levels can be selected interactively. There is also a viewer for text files or string-type arrays entered on the command line (similar to XDISPLAYFILE).


Date and time formats and conversion: A few routines and functions have been developed which are used in reading data records, in calculations, and in displaying date and time in a suitable form.


Astronomical calculations: Our routines: (i) compute an hour angle, a declination, and a radius of the Sun; (ii) calculate the heliographic, Carrington's, and plane coordinates, and perform transformation between them; (iii) compute the time interval between two events given in different calendar formats; (iv) transform the coordinates on the Sun according to differential rotation; and (v) rotate a flat image of the Sun around the polar axis.


Service widgets: They are used for inputting a date and time, a brief text, or coordinates. There are widgets for issuing a message, for obtaining an answer to a question, and for selection of one item from the list, etc.


Other: The following routines we have not classified: (i) conversion of a bit-serial array into a byte array; (ii) creation of a new system variable !UC containing universal constants; (iii) selection and preparing of the graphics device required for the next output (including setting of sizes, thickness, color, etc.), and closing them; and (iv) deallocation of all possible file units (convenient for debugging.)

4. Routines and Functions for SSRT Data Users

These routines are oriented to SSRT data processing.


SSRT: instrumentation, data processing: A range of routines is used to calculate the parameters of the SSRT beam and response as well as astrometric values; to read and convert the information contained in the original records; to execute some actions with original files; to perform data processing; and to simulate instrumental characteristics of the SSRT and its response.


Special routines: We have also some routines completely for our own convenience, such as converting ASCII codes from Roman into Russian, etc.

5. Supplemented and Corrected Routines

We have modified the routine CONGRID to transform small arrays correctly. We have also supplemented the routine IMAGE_CONT with various keywords, and edited it to display small arrays correctly. The routine READ_BMP has been enhanced to handle monochrome images.

We welcome any interest and cooperation.

Acknowledgments:

We are grateful to Drs. B. Kliem (AIP, Germany), Yu. M. Rosenraukh, T. A. Treskov, S. V. Lesovoi, V. G. Miller, A. V. Bulatov, and B. I. Lubyshev (ISTP, Russia) for the helpful discussion and the assistance in providing us with the data.

This work was supported by grants International Science Foundation (ISF) RLD000 and RLD300, ESO C&EE Programme A-03-049 and A-05-013, Swiss National Science Foundation 20 29871.90, and INTAS (INTAS-94-4625). Our special thanks to ISF for supporting our participation at this conference.

References:

Smolkov, G. Ya., Pistolkors, A. A., Treskov, T. A., Krissinel, B. B., & Putilov, V. A. 1986, Ap&SS, 119, 1

Konovalov, S. K., Altyntsev, A. T., Grechnev, V. V., Lisysian, E. G., & Magun, A. 1997, this volume


© Copyright 1997 Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 390 Ashton Avenue, San Francisco, California 94112, USA

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Solar-Terrestrial Physics Division

The Solar-Terrestrial Physics Division (former Geophysical/Geomagnetic Division) continues the geomagnetic research field started by H.C.Ørsted. This research field was affiliated the Danish Meteorological Institute from its start in 1872. Later, the auroral and ionospheric research fields, mainly based on observations from Greenland, were associated to the geomagnetic research division. The solar-terrestrial research at DMI has now developed into modern Space Research which, in addition to the theoretical Space Physics, comprises a range of geophysical observations from an extended net of stations in Denmark and Greenland and participation in satellite experiments like, for instance, the Ørsted geomagnetic research satellite. The primary aim of the research is to provide information and knowledge of the effects of the Solar magnetic activity, like solar flares and solar wind disturbances, on the Earth's environment and climate.

Current Solar-Terrestrial Research Projects
The Ørsted Satellite Project
Ground-based Ionospheric Observations
Solar Activity and Earths Climate
Space Weather Data and Forecast Services
Near-real-time Specification and Forecast of Polar Field-Aligned Currents
Real-time Prediction of DST index (1-hr ahead)
Geophysical Data Center Services
World Data Centre for Geomagnetism, Copenhagen
Polar Cap Magnetic Activity Index - PC North
Greenland Magnetometer Chain
Polar Conjugate Facility (PCF)
Staff


Publications

National Committee for COSPAR (c/o DMI 1997-2002)
Conjugate Sprite Campaign 2001


DMI 22 October 2001. ISP

ULF ‘Blast’ Detected In US Bridge Collapse
:::shudders:::

If this report is true, we're in even deeper shit than we'd thunk...

Quote:

[Ed. Note: This report should be read from its website location at http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1026.htm as this email copy does not contain the links embedded in the original report.]

August 2, 2007

Massive ULF 'Blast' Detected In U.S. Bridge Collapse Catastrophe
By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers


Reports from Russia's Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics located in Irkutsk are reporting today that their Siberian Solar Radio Telescope (SSRT) detected a "massive" ultra low frequency (ULF) 'blast' emanating from Latitude: 45° 00' North Longitude: 93° 15' West at the "exact" moment, and location, of a catastrophic collapse of a nearly 2,000 foot long bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

To the horrific destruction of the Interstate 35W Bridge which spanned the Mississippi River we can read as reported by the Star Tribune News Service:

"The 1,907-foot bridge fell into the Mississippi River and onto roadways below. The span was packed with rush hour traffic, and dozens of vehicles fell with the bridge leaving scores of dazed commuters scrambling for their lives.

Nine people were confirmed dead as of 4 a.m. today. Sixty were taken to hospitals and 20 people were still missing this morning. Authorities said they expected the death toll to rise."

Russian Military reports state that the total collapse of such a massive bridge, and in the absence of evidence linking its destruction to terrorist activity, could only have been accomplished by an acoustic weapon, of which the United States Military is known to possess.

These reports further state that one of the United States primary research organizations into acoustic weapons research is Augsburg College, and which is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and most importantly less than 1 mile from the Interstate 35W Bridge collapse.

To the exact reason of why, and what exactly happened in this catastrophe we can only speculate, but, with what is known about the United States past history of using sophisticated weapons on their own citizens for "research" purposes it certainly lies in the realm of possibility that this horrific tragedy when the subject comes to the use of ULF weapons.

To the past usage of these new types of weapons we can read even back into the 1980's of the United States research into their use as reported by the CNN News Service:

"Imagine the implications of a weapon with no visible trace -- a weapon that could knock out tanks, ships, and planes as fast as the speed of light. The same technology, with modifications, could disorient and even tranquilize military personnel, rendering them virtually helpless in the battle zone. These are the new weapons of war we will examine in this series.

For the past 40 years, the world has been riveted by the threat of nuclear war, and more recently by the prospect of space defenses using lasers and other modern technologies.

Lightning is the most dramatic form of energy to be found in nature. Scientists have succeeded in creating limited types of artificial lightning. And some think that these could be the forerunners of a new type of directed-energy weapon, part of a family of weapons that operate within the radio frequency segment of the electromagnetic spectrum, and are thus referred to as radio frequency weapons."

To the dangers of ULF weapons being used against civilians we can read the warnings of Dr. Rauni Leena Kilde, MD, the former Chief Medical Officer for Lapland (northern Finland), who warned in 1999:

"When the use of electromagnetic fields, extra-low (ELF) and ultra-low (ULF) frequencies and microwaves aimed deliberately at certain individuals, groups, and even the general population to cause diseases, disorientation, chaos and physical and emotional pain breaks into the awareness of the general population, a public outcry is inevitable."

To the exact reason of why the United States would be targeting Minneapolis with such a massive ULF "blast" we can find in the exact neighborhoods that surround the Interstate 35W Bridge, and which are home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States, including over 30,000 Somalis who are outraged by the U.S. sponsored invasion of their home Nation by Ethiopian forces.

For the American people as a whole, this catastrophe provides yet another example of the consequences of their allowing their Military Forces to gain total control over their economy and lives, and which history has long shown leads always towards total destruction.

© August 2, 2007 EU and US all rights reserved.
http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1026.htm
--
Sorcha Faal
sorchafaal@fastmail.fm

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