[meteorite-list] ESA's New SOHO Science Archive Now Online

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:22:17 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200911260022.nAQ0MHFM019747_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=45900

ESA's new SOHO science archive now online
European Space Agency
23 Nov 2009

Access to data from the ESA-NASA SOHO mission has just become easier
with the launch of a new SOHO science archive with enhanced capabilities
for searching and visualising the vast SOHO data archive. This is the
first in a new generation of science archives under development at ESA's
European Space Astronomy Centre.

Since operations began in 1995 the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
(SOHO) has been transmitting data from its twelve scientific instruments
back to Earth at a rate of 1 Gigabyte per day. Analysis of this data has
resulted in ground-breaking scientific results which have included the
first images of a star's convection zone and the structure of sunspots
below the photosphere; the most precise measurements of the temperature
structure, interior rotation, and gas flow in the solar interior; the
discovery of new dynamic phenomena such as coronal waves and solar
tornadoes, and the discovery of more than 1600 comets.

The recently launched ESA SOHO Science Archive allows for seamless
access to the complete archive of science data sets from the 12
instruments as soon as the data are processed. A Graphical User
Interface, based on state-of-the-art technology, provides both the
expert and layman with access to a wide variety of data including
helioseismic measurements of the centre of the Sun, full-disc images of
the solar atmosphere in different wavelengths, and measurements of the
solar wind filling the interplanetary media. The ability to generate
on-the-fly sequences of images facilitates viewing in minutes processes
that take days or months in real time. This type of tool has contributed
to discoveries of new solar phenomena, such as the aforementioned
coronal waves, solar tornadoes, and even new comets.

Innovation and interoperability are key to the new archive

One of the challenges in developing the new archive was to find a way to
provide a quick response to queries of a complex database of more than 2
million solar observations. The complex relations between the data
fields resulted in slow responses when using traditional database
searches. This was overcome by applying the Dijkstra graph theory search
algorithm to database searches. By generating table joins "on-the-fly",
database searches are improved resulting in better response times when
compared to the traditional approach. A simple query of all observations
within the SOHO science archive, for instance, takes less than a second
to return results, a response that could not be achieved using the
traditional methods.

Enhanced functionality in the archive is provided by the 'Time
Animator', a platform-independent tool that instantly generates video
sequences of the Sun. Several imaging instruments can be selected at one
time to create parallel video sequences.

The new archive has been developed in compliance with protocols defined
by the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA). In addition,
scientific requirements from the community have been gathered by the
Archive Scientists and converted into functionalities within the
archives. These two factors along with the ability to interface with
standard analysis tools that are also VO compliant renders this archive
an essential tool in solar research.

Preserving the legacy of the ESA science missions

The SOHO science archive is the first in a series of new generation
scientific archives being developed and implemented by the Science
Archives and Virtual Observatory Team at the European Space Astronomy
Centre in Spain. These archives will contribute to preserving the legacy
of ESA's science missions by conserving and providing access to data
from all of these missions.

Contacts

For further details about the ESA SOHO Science Archive please contact:

Pedro Osuna, Science Archives and VO Team Leader
Email: Pedro.Osunaesa.int

Luis S??nchez, SOHO Archive Scientist
Email: Luis.Sanchezesa.int

Christophe Arviset, Head of the Science Archives and Computer Support
Engineering Unit
Email: Christophe.Arvisetesa.int

Bernhard Fleck, ESA SOHO Project Scientist
Email: Berhard.Fleckesa.int
Received on Wed 25 Nov 2009 07:22:17 PM PST