How to obtain GIS data

All GIS data are taken through the use of a study which contains information such as which slit to use and the exposure times. For more information on existing GIS studies click here.

There are 3 ways of obtaining GIS data:

• use exisiting archived data
• run an exisiting study
• develop a new study

All studies are given acronyms which can be used to locate the data.

Archive data

GIS has been collecting data for almost 10 years and a great deal is openly available in the archive.

If you do not hold the data archive you can search within IDL save files which contain the fits header information. Please visit this link.

If you hold the data archive it is possible to:

- Check what data exist in a specified time window using the routine xcat.

IDL> xcat [, qlds]

and enter the specified time range. xcat gives the pointing information also.

- Check what data exist in a specified time window using the routine list_exper.

IDL> list_exper,'18:00 21-Jan-1998','21:00 21-Jan-1998', obs,n_found

The output obs is an IDL structure which contains full details of the observations performed by CDS between the selected times. n_found gives the number of observations found.

- Check information about a study using the routine xstudy

IDL> xstudy

The CDS website also contains an Atlas of quick look images and spectra for all archived data.

To retrieve archive data please use the Solar UK Research Facility (SURF).

Run an exisiting study

Existing studies can be run on specified regions. The study and region (or solar feature) of choice will be placed in the CDS observing plan which is compiled once a week.

For this option please contact the CDS project scientist or Principle Investigator with your request.

Developing new studies

If an exisiting study does not meet your requirements new ones can be designed. they will first be tested on the engineering model at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

For this option please contact the CDS project scientist or Principle Investigator.