earth science

NRLMSISE-00

NRLMSISE-00 is a earth science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand NRLMSISE-00 rather than just read about it. In short: NRLMSISE-00 is an empirical, global reference atmospheric model of the Earth from ground to space. It models the temperatures and densities of the atmosphere's components.

Key takeaways

NRLMSISE-00 belongs to earth science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect NRLMSISE-00 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of NRLMSISE-00 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NRLMSISE-00 is an empirical, global reference atmospheric model of the Earth from ground to space. It models the temperatures and densities of the atmosphere's components. A primary use of this model is to aid predictions of satellite orbital decay due to atmospheric drag. This model has also been used by astronomers to calculate the mass of air between telescopes and laser beams in order to assess the impact of laser guide stars on the non-lasing telescopes.

Development The model, developed by Mike Picone, Alan Hedin, and Doug Drob, is based on the earlier models MSIS-86 and MSISE-90, but updated with actual satellite drag data. It also predicts anomalous oxygen. NRL stands for the US Naval Research Laboratory. MSIS stands for mass spectrometer and incoherent scatter radar, the two primary data sources for development of earlier versions of the model. E indicates that the model extends from the ground through exosphere and 00 is the year of release. Over the years since introduction, NRLMSISE-00 has become the standard for international space research.

Input and output The inputs for the model are:

Year and day Time of day Geodetic altitude from 0 to 1,000 km Geodetic latitude Geodetic longitude Daily F10.7 solar flux for previous day 81-day average of F10.7 solar flux Daily Ap geomagnetic index 25 flags which turn on and off different parts of the calculation The outputs of the model are:

Helium number density Oxygen (O) number density Nitrogen (N2) number density Oxygen (O2) number density Argon (Ar) number density Total mass density Hydrogen (H) number density Nitrogen (N) number density Anomalous oxygen number density Exospheric temperature Temperature at altitude

See also Static atmospheric model International Standard Atmosphere links to 1976 standard.

References

External links Publication Interactive Visualization C and Fortran source code F90 source code Python library MATLAB mex bridge Java code in Orekit space dynamics library

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with NRLMSISE-00

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what NRLMSISE-00 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In earth science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to NRLMSISE-00 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about NRLMSISE-00 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of NRLMSISE-00

In research: NRLMSISE-00 appears in earth science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses NRLMSISE-00 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: NRLMSISE-00 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Atmosphere of Earth, Government software, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for NRLMSISE-00 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study NRLMSISE-00 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what NRLMSISE-00 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain NRLMSISE-00 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is NRLMSISE-00 in simple terms?

NRLMSISE-00 is an empirical, global reference atmospheric model of the Earth from ground to space. It models the temperatures and densities of the atmosphere's components.

Why does NRLMSISE-00 matter?

Because it connects several earth science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study NRLMSISE-00?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on NRLMSISE-00.