AKR 3D Map

Sudipta Kumar Hazra

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS)

Alexandra Ruth Fogg

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS)

March 30, 2026

Introduction

  • 2D Foundation: Morioka et al. (2011) defined the geometric boundaries for AKR illumination and shadow zones in 2D space.
  • AKR Burst Isolation: Fogg et al. (2022) extracted a decade of discrete AKR “burst” events from the NASA Wind/WAVES archives.
  • 3D Evolution: Our project integrates these into a 3D Python tool, enabling spatial mapping and AKR visibility analysis in 3D space.

Image source: Morioka et al. (2011)

Development Roadmap

How the code work

Cartesian

from akr_3d_map.grid_3d import Cartesian

# 3. Performing analysis and generating plot
cart = (
    Cartesian()
    .create_grid()
    .add_burst_count(wind_data, coord_colnames=("x_gse", "y_gse", "z_gse"))
    .add_observation_time(wind_data, coord_colnames=("LT_gse", "radius", "lat_gse"))
    .add_residence_time(residence_data, coord_colnames=("x_gse", "y_gse", "z_gse"))
    .plot_3d(
        variable="burst_count |residence_time | residence_time",
        path="plot_save_path",
        show_earth=True,
        earth_image_path_str="/temp.jpg",
        show_sun=False,
    )
)

LTRMlat

from akr_3d_map.grid_3d import LTRMLat

# 3. Performing analysis and generating plot
ltrmlat = (
    LTRMLat()
    .create_grid()
    .add_burst_count(wind_data, coord_colnames=("x_gse", "y_gse", "z_gse"))
    .add_observation_time(wind_data, coord_colnames=("LT_gse", "radius", "lat_gse"))
    .add_residence_time(residence_data, coord_colnames=("x_gse", "y_gse", "z_gse"))
    .plot_3d(
        variable="burst_count |residence_time | residence_time",
        path="plot_save_path",
        show_earth=True,
        earth_image_path_str="/temp.jpg",
        show_sun=False,
    )
)

Coding architecture

%%{init: {'theme': 'base', 'themeVariables': { 'fontSize': '20px' }}}%%
classDiagram
    direction TB
    class FeatureCalculations {
        <<Mixin>>
        +add_burst_counts()
        +add_observation_time()
        +add_residence_time()
    }

    class AKRGrid {
        <<Base>>
        +data_source
        +common_method()
        +load_catalog()
    }

    class Cartesian {
        +x_y_z_coordinates
        +RE_units
        +get_grid_terminology()
    }

    class LTRMLat {
        +lt_radial_lat_coordinates
        +spherical_units
        +get_grid_terminology()
    }

    %% Relationships
    FeatureCalculations <|-- AKRGrid : Provides Features
    AKRGrid <|-- Cartesian : 3D Cartesian Map
    AKRGrid <|-- LTRMLat : 3D Spherical Map

Cartesian: 3D Plots for Burst Count

LTRMlat: 3D Plots for Burst Count

Other plots are at:

Documentation Page

Refrences

Fogg, A. R., C. M. Jackman, J. E. Waters, et al. 2022. “Wind/WAVES Observations of Auroral Kilometric Radiation: Automated Burst Detection and Terrestrial Solar Wind - Magnetosphere Coupling Effects.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 127 (5): e2021JA030209. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA030209.
Morioka, A., Y. Miyoshi, F. Tsuchiya, et al. 2011. “On the Simultaneity of Substorm Onset Between Two Hemispheres.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 116 (A4). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JA016174.