Guide to Analysing Data
Introduction
These pages attempt to document the programs available to users of the eiscat project computers supported by the EISCAT UK group. They describe the analysis process, from restoring raw data from the tape archive, of preparing and analysing the data, and eventually to producing a graphical plot in glorious technicolour.
While the groups' primary purpose might be to process and analyse data, we also advise on running campaigns (see Campaigns), and in support of this activity, we provide various tools, these are documented in planning.
Description
Overview
During 2000-2002 the receivers at all the radars was upgraded to a digital system, an event often referred to as the "renovation".
EISCAT data from 1981 onwards is held in the archive at RAL, continual development of the radars has resulted in a myriad collection of data formats and programs so that this data may be processed in some way. The figure below illustrates the software collection shortly after the renovation.
Data flow
Post-renovation
With the renovation of the mainland radars in 2000 and the ESR in 2002, there are now more possibilities for the processing of the data and the design and implementation of new radar pulse schemes. While the renovation has resulted in a profusion of new experiments, EISCAT had made the decision to record the raw data in Matlab file format.
For the EISCAT UK group, this has been an opportunity to re-invent and rationalise many of the programs used in analysing and processing the data. All of the intermediate forms of data are now represented in Matlab file format. It is these programs that are currently being documented.
Pre-renovation
There exists quite an amount of documentation for the older programs that has much useful information, it will be incorporated in these pages as those topics are covered. For the time being, under the section pre-renovation, it is available in its original form.
