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From: oler@rho.uleth.ca (Cary Oler)
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Subject: Software Release Announcement
To: solar-bulletins@lut.fi
Date: Fri, 2 Jul 93 22:39:37 MDT
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                  *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
                  +*  NEW SOFTWARE RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENT  *+
                  *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

                               NEW Version 2.00

                                July 02, 1993


     The Solar Terrestrial Dispatch is pleased to announce the release of
Version 2.00 of our Professional Dynamic Auroral Oval Simulator.  This NEW
version has been completely rewritten and is now more powerful than ever.
Here are a few of the new features:


  *NEW*   Many types of map projections are available.  A Map Library Manager
          is included to permit you to create any number of maps (limited
          only by disk space) centered on any geographical location, using a
          database of over 100,000 geographical coordinate pairs.  These
          accurate maps can be displayed using a variety of projection
          methods, a few of which include: Orthographic, Stereographic,
          Oblique Azimuthal Equidistant, Equal-Area, Mercator, Lambert,
          Cylindrical, etc.  Maps are now displayed almost instantaneously
          (over 10 times faster than was possible with Version 1.00).

  *NEW*   Precise observed positions of the auroral ovals as well as
          significant internal structural information (ex. location and
          extent of diffuse aurorae, discrete aurorae, daytime aurorae, and
          MUCH more) can be determined using this software in conjunction
          with an extensive optional database of auroral oval data collected
          by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites.
          These satellites are equipped with special sensors capable of
          directly detecting the position and characteristics of the auroral
          ovals. This optional data permits you to plot (for any hour of any
          day) the location and structure of the northern and southern
          auroral ovals for the period from December 1983 to 1992.  Each
          polar-pass of the orbiting DMSP satellites can be plotted on-screen
          using the AURORA software and any of the many supported map
          projections. This is the most extensive, contiguous, and accurate
          database of auroral oval information available anywhere.  It is an
          exceptionally powerful tool.

  *NEW*   The number of customizable functions has almost been doubled.  Each
          of these options can be selected or deselected within the software.

  *NEW*   Fully Contoured Maps of Auroral Activity Visibility have been
          completely redesigned to more accurately designate areas which
          should be able to observe auroral activity.

  *NEW*   Prompts for the current time can be entered in either Local or
          Universal time (UTC).  You can very easily switch between either
          type of time-system using the new Options menu.

  *NEW*   The User Interface has been completely rewritten and is now
          entirely graphical in nature, with windowed access to commands
          using VGA graphics.

  *NEW*   Version 2.00 is now Windows 3.x compatible.  It supports either
          Keyboard or Mouse control.

  *NEW*   Models have been modified and new models incorporated into the
          software to increase the accuracy of the plots.  Perhaps most
          importantly, the poleward edges of the auroral ovals are now
          computed and estimated with this new version of the software.
          This additional feature provides striking polar-projected maps.

  *NEW*   Our Solar and Geophysical Database Management Software is being
          shipped as part of the AURORA software.  Included is our extensive
          and contiguous database of solar and geophysical information
          spanning the years from 1991 to 1993.  The AURORA software will use
          this database to more accurately plot the position and extent of
          the auroral ovals.

  *NEW*   Full Lunar Simulation capabilities have been added to this
          software.  All-Sky Simulations now take into account the position,
          phase, and level of optical interference that exists when the Moon
          is visible.  This feature also permits you to examine instances of
          solar eclipses for any location on the Earth.

  *NEW*   Graphically plot the phases of the Moon along with sunrise/sunset
          and moonrise/moonset statistics for a full 30-day period centered
          on any given date and any given geographical location.  This useful
          new feature permits you to determine days when Lunar interference
          is minimal and seeing conditions are optimal.

  *NEW*   Our extensive database of ground-based auroral activity sightings
          has been expanded to cover the dates from 1991 to the end of June
          1993.  Use this database to plot the locations where aurorae were
          sighted on any date from 1991 to 1993.  Over 2,200 ground-based
          stations were used to form this database.


                   !!  RADIO COMMUNICATORS NOTE  !!

          This version of our Professional Dynamic Auroral Oval
          Simulator now supports the production of Oblique Azimuthal
          Equidistant maps, centered on any geographical location.
          These map projections are extremely valuable due to the fact
          that radio signal paths are projected as straight lines if
          they originate from the center of these projections.  Using
          these map projections, you can instantly determine what
          transmission azimuths to use to avoid the instabilities and
          signal degradation that occurs in the auroral ovals.  Full
          global azimuthal equidistant maps can be drawn WITH signal
          paths superimposed on the auroral oval maps. Furthermore,
          any number of Oblique Azimuthal Equidistant maps can be
          created and added to the Map Library for use by the AURORA
          software.  Sunrise/Sunset terminators (or gray lines) can
          be superimposed on these maps (and all other projections).

          NEW ELECTRON AND ION PRECIPITATION MODELS have been
          integrated into this software to more accurately plot the
          boundaries of electron and ion precipitation associated with
          the auroral ovals which directly affect ionospheric radio
          propagation.  Version 1.00 used models that were heavily
          dependent on precipitation that caused _optical_ aurorae.
          However, ionospherically propagated radio signals can be
          affected by electron precipitation that occurs poleward of
          the visible edge of auroral activity.  For this reason,
          Version 1.00 is less accurate than Version 2.00 in
          disseminating areas of potential ionospheric degradation
          associated with the auroral ovals. This version of the
          AURORA software also lets you to easily switch between the
          Optical and Radio models.

          DETAILED ELECTRON AND ION PRECIPITATION POSITIONAL DATA
          is available using our extensive database of DMSP satellite
          observations of the auroral oval precipitation zones.  These
          satellites measure electron precipitation between 32 eV and
          30 keV. Ionospheric radio signals are affected by electron
          precipitation from about 1 keV to 20 or 30 keV.  As a
          result, the DMSP data can be used to determine the precise
          locations of the auroral ovals where radio signals can be
          affected.  Nine years (from December 1983 to 1992) of nearly
          contiguous data are optionally available with this software
          to aid radio communicators.  Using this data, you can study
          precipitation patterns and compare current events with
          similar events that occurred up to 9 years ago.


     Accurately predict or analyze the location and visibility of auroral
activity with this software.  Based on scientific models, this professional
software gives you the ability to determine when and where to look for
auroral activity (also known as the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis, and
the Aurora Australis).  The DMSP satellite data that is now available with
this software provides an unprecedented opportunity to intricately examine
and study the structure and character of auroral activity over time-frames of
less than an hour over a 9 year period, covering hundreds of auroral storms
and substorms.


VERSION 2.00 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

          *  IBM or Compatible computer
          *  MSDOS Version 3.x or higher
          *  640K of memory (at least 400K of free memory)
          *  VGA Graphics Capabilities
          *  Minimum Hard Disk Space: 3 Megabytes
          *  Full 9-Year DMSP Database Requires: 14.7 Megabytes

     The software will use (and benefit from) a Math Coprocessor if one is
installed on your system.

     For special low prices on this software, contact: Oler@Rho.Uleth.CA, or
COler@Solar.Stanford.Edu and request pricing information on the Professional
Dynamic Auroral Oval Simulator, Version 2.00.  Alternatively, write to us
for more information at:

                          Solar Terrestrial Dispatch
                          P.O. Box 357
                          Stirling, Alberta
                          T0K 2E0
                          Canada

     Discounts apply to those who are registered with us.  Contact the above
for more information.


