Publication Date:
2011-08-24
Description:
MSIS is an empirical model of the thermosphere based on Mass Spectrometer and Incoherent Scatter data. It provides a description of atmospheric temperature, density, and composition for altitudes higher than 85 kilometers. There are coefficients in MSIS to account for yearly and daily variations, geodetic latitude and longitude, altitude, and solar activity. Variations due to magnetic storms are represented by three-hour magnetic ap indices. The MSIS model enables a more timely prediction of aeronomic densities for specific events, such as rocket flights. The database for this model is a comprehensive summary of rocket flight, satellite, incoherent scatter radar, grenade, and falling sphere measurements. Subsets of data were formed by random selection after sorting on altitude, latitude, time of day, etc. Curve fitting was done with four to five thousand data points at a time. The resulting coefficients are presented in subroutines which calculate thermospheric composition and temperature for a user-supplied position and time. MSIS is written in FORTRAN 77 for use with batch or interactive programs and has been implemented on a DEC VAX series computer operating under VMS 4.3 with a central memory requirement of approximately 25K of 8 bit bytes. MSIS is based on a 1977 thermosphere model and was last updated in 1987 to reflect the CIRA 1986 Neutral Thermosphere Model.
Keywords:
GEOPHYSICS
Type:
GSC-12989
Format:
text
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