On the error estimation of multi-spacecraft timing method
The multi-spacecraft timing method, a data analysis technique based on four-point measurements to obtain the normal vector and velocity of an observed boundary, has been widely applied to various discontinuities in the solar wind and the magnetosphere studies. In this paper, we perform simulatio...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2009-10-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/27/3949/2009/angeo-27-3949-2009.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819213363357417472 |
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| author | X.-Z. Zhou X.-Z. Zhou Z. Y. Pu Q.-G. Zong Q.-G. Zong P. Song S. Y. Fu J. Wang H. Zhang |
| author_facet | X.-Z. Zhou X.-Z. Zhou Z. Y. Pu Q.-G. Zong Q.-G. Zong P. Song S. Y. Fu J. Wang H. Zhang |
| author_sort | X.-Z. Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The multi-spacecraft timing method, a data analysis technique
based on four-point measurements to obtain the normal vector and
velocity of an observed boundary, has been widely applied to
various discontinuities in the solar wind and the magnetosphere
studies. In this paper, we perform simulations to analyze the
errors of the timing method by specifying the error sources to the
uncertainties in the determination of the time delays between each
spacecraft pair. It is shown that the timing method may have large
errors if either the spacecraft tetrahedron is largely elongated
and/or flattened, or the discontinuity moves much slower than the
constellation itself. The results, therefore, suggest that some of
the applications of the timing method require reexamination with
special caution, in particular for the studies of the slow-moving
discontinuities associated with, for example, the plasmaspheric
plumes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:57:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a7fcd779ab0241a0a56a467eb7e8c2dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:57:40Z |
| publishDate | 2009-10-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annales Geophysicae |
| spelling | doaj.art-a7fcd779ab0241a0a56a467eb7e8c2dd2022-12-21T17:56:17ZengCopernicus PublicationsAnnales Geophysicae0992-76891432-05762009-10-01273949395510.5194/angeo-27-3949-2009On the error estimation of multi-spacecraft timing methodX.-Z. Zhou0X.-Z. Zhou1Z. Y. Pu2Q.-G. Zong3Q.-G. Zong4P. Song5S. Y. Fu6J. Wang7H. Zhang8Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USAInstitute of Space Physics and Applied Technology, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Space Physics and Applied Technology, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Space Physics and Applied Technology, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaCenter for Atmospheric Research, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USACenter for Atmospheric Research, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USAInstitute of Space Physics and Applied Technology, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Space Physics and Applied Technology, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USAThe multi-spacecraft timing method, a data analysis technique based on four-point measurements to obtain the normal vector and velocity of an observed boundary, has been widely applied to various discontinuities in the solar wind and the magnetosphere studies. In this paper, we perform simulations to analyze the errors of the timing method by specifying the error sources to the uncertainties in the determination of the time delays between each spacecraft pair. It is shown that the timing method may have large errors if either the spacecraft tetrahedron is largely elongated and/or flattened, or the discontinuity moves much slower than the constellation itself. The results, therefore, suggest that some of the applications of the timing method require reexamination with special caution, in particular for the studies of the slow-moving discontinuities associated with, for example, the plasmaspheric plumes.https://www.ann-geophys.net/27/3949/2009/angeo-27-3949-2009.pdf |
| spellingShingle | X.-Z. Zhou X.-Z. Zhou Z. Y. Pu Q.-G. Zong Q.-G. Zong P. Song S. Y. Fu J. Wang H. Zhang On the error estimation of multi-spacecraft timing method Annales Geophysicae |
| title | On the error estimation of multi-spacecraft timing method |
| title_full | On the error estimation of multi-spacecraft timing method |
| title_fullStr | On the error estimation of multi-spacecraft timing method |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the error estimation of multi-spacecraft timing method |
| title_short | On the error estimation of multi-spacecraft timing method |
| title_sort | on the error estimation of multi spacecraft timing method |
| url | https://www.ann-geophys.net/27/3949/2009/angeo-27-3949-2009.pdf |
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