- Swarm
- Data
- Data overview and access
Swarm Data
Data Access
Read our guide to the Swarm Dissemination Server to learn more about how to access Swarm data.
Explore the data products using the Data Catalogue in the Swarm Product Handbook.
Data Download
The access and use of Swarm products are regulated by ESA's Data Policy and subject to the acceptance of the specific Terms and Conditions.
In accordance with ESA Earth Observation Data Policy, all Swarm Level 1b and Level 2 collections are freely accessible to all users upon creating an EO Sign In account.
Files can be downloaded:
- Via any HTTP browser at http://swarm-diss.eo.esa.int
- Directly via an ftp client at ftp://swarm-diss.eo.esa.int
Please note that anonymous access to the Dissemination Server will no longer be available after January 2025. Starting from February, an active EO Sign In account will be required to download products. Learn more about how to download products using an account in our guide to the Dissemination Server.
Data can also be accessed via the VirES service and Virtual Research Environment:
- Graphical interface
- Python client documentation
- Jupyter notebook service
- Heliophysics Application Programming Interface (HAPI).
Note that the Catalogue pages each contain direct links to the relevant data directory for the respective product.
The file server has a top-level structure divided into directories: “Advanced”, “Level1b”, “Level2daily”, “Level2longterm”, and ''Multimission”.
“Level1b” and “Level2daily” are each divided into “Latest_baselines” and “Entire_mission_data”. The structure is then divided according to product type, and then by satellite ID where applicable. For each directory there is a .txt file with the list of products available in the corresponding directory tree.
Further details can be found in the 'Swarm PDGS Data Access User Manual', and it is key to note that:
LATEST BASELINES FOLDER: Contains all the interoperable products generated in a consistent way with the application of all significant data quality improvements, but not necessarily covering the entire mission.
ENTIRE MISSION DATA FOLDER: Contains the full data coverage of the entire mission, regardless of any consideration of interoperability among the same product type.
For more information, see the Product format page in the Swarm Product Data Handbook.
Data Tools
VirES for Swarm
VirES for Swarm, the virtual research service, is a highly interactive data manipulation and retrieval interface for Swarm constellation mission products. It includes tools for studying various geomagnetic models by comparing them to the Swarm satellite measurements at given space weather and ionospheric conditions.
Virtual Research Environment (VRE)
The Swarm Virtual Research Environment (VRE) is a cloud service which provides a web-based interactive development environment based on JupyterLab.
Swarm-Aurora
Swarm-Aurora is a web-based platform that facilitates the identification of opportunities for auroral research utilising Swarm data.
The Average Magnetic field and Polar current System model (AMPS)
The Average Magnetic field and Polar current System model (AMPS) is a climatological model of polar ionospheric currents, based on magnetic field measurements from the CHAMP and Swarm satellites.
Data Collections
The Swarm mission delivers Level 1B and Level 2 data products. Data collections are available from individual satellites on a daily basis or from the full constellation.
The data are freely available to everyone.
Swarm data collections are also available by the thematic areas the mission supports:
- Swarm Core products
- Swarm Geodesy/Gravity products
- Swarm Ionosphere/Magnetosphere products
- Swarm Lithosphere products
- Swarm Mantle products
- Swarm Oceans products
- Swarm Space Weather products
- Swarm Thermosphere products.
Learn more about the Swarm collections in the Swarm Product Data Handbook. The handbook provides a detailed description of the collections. It is a useful reference to support the use of Swarm products for further processing or applications.
Data Quality
Swarm Quality Control Reports are produced on a weekly basis and cover the quality and the data acquired by the three Swarm satellites and the products produced from this data. The quality control methods and diagnostics are continuously evolving and improving throughout the mission lifetime, in order to report also on the product evolutions and status of the instruments.