Aurorasaurus Database of Real‐Time, Crowd‐Sourced Aurora Data for Space Weather Research

Abstract

This technical report documents the details of Aurorasaurus citizen science data for the period spanning 2015 and 2016 as well as its routine data filtering protocols. Aurorasaurus citizen science data is a collection of auroral sightings submitted to the project via its website or apps and mined from social media. It is a robust data set and particularly abundant during strong geomagnetic storms when auroral precipitation models have the highest uncertainty. These data are offered to the scientific community for use through an open‐access database in its raw and scientific formats, each of which is described in detail in this technical report. Furthermore, by demonstrating its scientific utility, we aim to encourage its integration into auroral research.

ScintPi: A Low‐Cost, Easy‐to‐Build GPS Ionospheric Scintillation Monitor for DASI Studies of Space Weather, Education, and Citizen Science Initiatives

“…These users could build copies of the system and collaborate with professional scientists in the acquisition and analyses of the observations. Such an initiative would follow the success and lessons learned from previous efforts in space weather using different types of instruments and observables (Barnard et al, ; Frissell et al, ; Knipp, ; Kosar et al, ; MacDonald et al, ; Perry et al, ).…”

“…In recent years, however, it has become more recognized that distributed arrays of small instruments (DASI) can provide new information and help advance understanding about the state of the space environment near Earth (e.g., Coupling, Energetics and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions, ; National Research Council, ). Additionally, recent studies have shown the benefit of crowdsourcing and engagement of citizen scientists in studies of the space environment (Barnard et al, ; Frissell et al, ; Knipp, ; Kosar et al, ; MacDonald et al, ; Perry et al, ). These trends motivate the study of new, low‐cost instruments capable of providing useful observations.…”