Transfer of NRL historical solar spectral observations from film and print to digital image format

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CDMP SolarNRL 2006
CDMP Continuation Proposal
Transfer of NRL historical solar spectral
observations from film and print to digital image
format

• Project
• o To scan SKYLAB analog solar spectroheliograms
  into digital format.
• Why?
• o Old paper and film images are deteriorating.
  Studies of anthropogenic and natural forcing on
  climate variability require contributions from
  specific solar surface features over many solar
  cycles. Skylab data cover 3 periods in 1973 and
  1974. These data will provide solar UV input for
  NRL models for times when little or no solar UV
  data exist, except for proxy estimates.
• Results
• o Digital images will reside on the NGDC and the
  NRL web site.
• Spectra scanned during FY06 CDMP
  http/ares.nrl.navy.mil/reduce

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CDMP ProposedProject
CDMP Solar NRL 2006
Example of film mounted in plates.

• Scan solar spectra images and supporting
  documents
• Film strips 254 mm x 35 mm mounted on glass
  plates 340 mm x 50 mm about 1100 plates
• 14 data books with 1750 pages save in PDF
• Use OCR or data entry to convert metadata (PDF
  files or data books) to electronic format. Books
  from both FY06 and FY07 ( 15 books).

Data book pages
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Proposed Tasks
CDMP Solar NRL 2006

• NRL prepares plates and data books for contractor
• Contractor scans 1100 plates to be save in tiff
  format at 24 bit (three color) resolution (4096
  bpi)
• Contractor enters metadata into electronic format
  using PDF files or original books via OCR or data
  entry.

• NRL reviews and quality controls images and PDF
  files.
• NRL provides UMAX PL3000 flatbed scanner
• Images available online at NOAA and NRL web
  sites
• (preliminary web site http/ares.nrl.navy.
  mil/reduce)
• J. Morrill, NRL and H. Coffey, NGDC