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K Indices of Magnetic Activity Relative to an assumed Quiet-day for each 3-Hour Period

Metadata Updated: September 16, 2022

The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (formerly National Geophysical Data Center) receives the K indices on a current basis from approximately 85 observatories. The K index is a quasi-logarithmic local index of the 3-hourly range in magnetic activity relative to an assumed quiet-day curve for the recording site. First introduced by J. Bartels in 1938, it consists of a single digit 0 through 9 for each 3-hourly interval. The K indices are received on a monthly basis from the various observatories and are available from 1938 to present. The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (formerly National Geophysical Data Center) also receives KP indices from the Institute for Geophysik in Gottingen, Germany on a monthly basis. The KP index is a planetary index based on the K index from 12 or 13 selected stations and has been derived routinely from 1932.

Access & Use Information

License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Date September 18, 2015
Metadata Created Date September 16, 2022
Metadata Updated Date September 16, 2022
Reference Date(s) January 1, 1957 (publication)
Frequency Of Update irregular

Metadata Source

Harvested from NGDC STP Indices

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Date September 18, 2015
Metadata Created Date September 16, 2022
Metadata Updated Date September 16, 2022
Reference Date(s) January 1, 1957 (publication)
Responsible Party DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (Point of Contact)
Contact Email
Guid gov.noaa.ngdc.stp.indices:G00590
Access Constraints Use Constraints: None, Access Constraints: No Constraints
Bbox East Long 180.000000
Bbox North Lat 90.000000
Bbox South Lat -90.000000
Bbox West Long -180.000000
Coupled Resource
Frequency Of Update irregular
Harvest Object Id 0c65fbef-5826-4e90-bd02-68c723567945
Harvest Source Id 8fcc91fb-3399-4b06-abea-b4dadb7df9b7
Harvest Source Title NGDC STP Indices
Licence While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
Metadata Language eng; USA
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
Progress underDevelopment
Spatial Data Service Type
Spatial Reference System
Spatial Harvester True
Temporal Extent Begin 1938-01-01

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