Report UAG ; 46

"Accurate measurements of the weak interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) beyond the terrestrial bow shock are among the more difficult studies in space physics to perform. Since the May 1965 launch of IMP 3 and for virtually a full solar cycle, IMF measurements have been made on a nearly continuous basis. A detailed history of interplanetary and non-interplanetary magnetic field measurements made through 1969 is found in Ness (1970). The purpose of this report is to present an IMF data set that is uniform with respect to inclusion of cislunar IMF data only and yet which has as complete time coverage as presently possible over a full solar cycle. The report has been prepared for the convenience of investigators of macroscale phenomena in the interplanetary medium (sector structure, helioaltitude variations, solar cycle variations, etc.) and of other phenomena (e.g., ground level cosmic-ray events) for which knowledge of the IMF with hourly resolution is necessary. The report consists of listings and plots of cislunar hourly averages IMF parameters over the period November 27, 1963, to May 17, 974, and a discussion of the mutual consistency of the IMF data used herein. The magnetic tape from which the plots and listings were generated, which is available from the national Space Science Data Center (NSSDC), is also discussed"--Introduction.

National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service (NESDIS)