Technical Guide: Ionogram & HDF Data Mass Download

This module, mod_ionogrammi_download (v1.5.0), allows researchers to perform bulk downloads of ionospheric data directly from the INGV - Iononet repository. It is designed to facilitate the retrieval of large datasets for automated processing and analysis.

1. How to Use the Download Portal

To retrieve your data, follow these steps in the dedicated download section:

• Station Selection: Choose the desired Receiving Station (RX) (e.g., Rocca, Aquila, Lampedusa) and Transmitting Station (TX) (Roma or Montelibretti) from the dropdown menus.
• File Formats: You can select either PNG Images (visual ionograms), HDF Files (.h5) (raw data), or both simultaneously using the checkboxes.
• Date Range: Select your "From" and "To" dates. Due to the high resolution of the data and server processing time, the current limit is set to 5 days per single download.
• Organization: Check the "Maintain folder structure" box if you wish to keep the files organized by Year/Month/Day/Hour within the ZIP archive.

2. Understanding the ZIP Package

Once the processing is complete, you will receive a ZIP file containing the following:

• readme.txt: A summary file automatically generated for every download. It includes the date of the request, selected stations, the specific time interval, and the chosen format settings.
• Data Hierarchy: If the structure option was enabled, the ZIP will reflect the server's storage hierarchy: /YYYY/MM/DD/HH/.
• Naming Convention: Files follow the standard ISO format, for example: ionogram-2026-03-03T02.00.00Z.h5.

3. Technical Notes

• Loading States: While the server is compressing your files, a loading overlay ("Preparing ZIP archive...") will appear. Please do not refresh the page until the download starts.
• Empty Results: If no files are found for the selected combination of stations, dates, or file types, an error message will inform you that no data matches your criteria.
• Data Path: Files are retrieved from the primary ionospheric repository located at /images/ionodati/ionogrammi/.