FELDG/SHELLG/INTELG 1971


Author: G. Kluge
ESA/European Space Operations Centre
Robert-Bosch-Str. 5
6100 Darmstadt
Federal Republic of Germany

Parameter: Calculation of geomagnetic field parameters and L-value from spherical harmonics coefficients

Brief Description:
This software package contains the FORTRAN subroutine FELDG to calculate magnetic field components and the subroutines SHELLG and INTELG to calculate McIlwain's L parameter. By using a polynomial representation of the geomagnetic potential with inverse Cartesian coordinates, the algorithm for the field computation is considerably simplified and can easily be extended to obtain spatial derivatives of higher order. FELDG can be used with Gauss- normalized as well as Schmidt-normalized magnetic field coefficients for any of the internal source field models. SHELLG determines McIlwain's L-value by integrating along the magnetic field line to the conjugate point. The advantage of using the inverse coordinates system is a significant reduction in the number of steps needed to evaluate the integral invariant. The INTELG makes use of a precalculated (with SHELLG) tabulation of L-values for a specific magnetic field model. L is determinate by interpolation and Fourier expansion from this table. Such a procedure reduces the computation time for L considerably. Kluge (1970) reports a root- mean-square error of about 0.05% for L-values up to ten. Pre-calculated L-tables are, however, available only for the IGRF 1965, GSFC (12/66), and POGO (10/68) magnetic field models. Hilberg (1971) compared the L-values calculated with INVAR, SHELLG, and INTELG for a wide range of latitudes, longitudes, and altitudes. He found differences up to 5%, with the INVAR L- values always exceeding the other two calculations. The study also notes artificial discontinuities in the longitudinal variation of L-values obtained with INVAR. The average execution time for B and L calculation of INVAR, SHELLG, and INTELG is 70, 46, and 12 msec.

Availability: FELDG and SHELLG are included in the BILCAL/IGRF package.

References:
G. Kluge, A Generalized Method for the Calculation of the Geomagnetic Field from Multipole Expansions, European Space Operations Centre, ESOC Internal Note No. 61, Darmstadt, 1970.

G. Kluge, Computer Program SHELL for the Calculation of B and L from Models of the Geomagnetic Field, ESOC Internal Note No. 67, Darmstadt, 1970. (B20244)

G. Kluge, Computation of the Magnetic Shell Parameter L from a Compressed Data Table, ESOC Internal Note No. 72, Darmstadt, 1970.

G. Kluge, Direct Computation of the Magnetic Shell Parameter, Comp. Phys. Comm. 3, 31, 1972.

G. Kluge and K. G. Lenhart, Numerical Fits for the Geomagnetic Shell Parameter, Comp. Phys. Comm. 3, 36, 1972.

R. H. Hilberg, Magnetic Shell Parameter Calculations, KMS Industries, Report KMS 71-02, 1971


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