The AAVSO SID section provides a number of options for data logging, data reduction and report generation. You may or may not use one or all of these methods. How you monitor SIDs and how you generate a report is up to you and left open to personal preference. The only constraint imposed by the SID Program as a requirement for submitting data is the format of that data. Two requirements must be met. One is the internal format and the second is the file name convention of the formatted report.

File Format

The many monthly reports submitted to the SID program are processed by a data analysis program. This program assumes a certain format that consists of one data line per SID event with a set number of data fields on each line. Each data field must begin in a pre-defined column. The Required format is detailed at the following link:

• Reducing Data Gathered by VLF Monitoring Systems

Filename Convention

Data files must be named according to the observer and the station monitored
Each observer has an ID code. i.e. A87
Each observer monitors a VLF station with a 3 letter call sign. i.e. NAA

The file name should reflect these two pieces of information.

A87NAA.dat

Sample data file contents:

AAVSO Sudden Ionoshperic Disturbance Report
Observer: A87     10/04

40   041004  1120 1134 1124                 1-    5AA24              A87  

40   041004  1136 1149 1138                 1-    3AA24              A87  

40   041006  1826 1910 1836                 2     5AA24              A87  

40   041019  1426 1457 1430                 1+    5AA24              A87  

-- end report --