NRLMSISE‐00 empirical model of the atmosphere: Statistical comparisons and scientific issues

The new NRLMSISE‐00 empirical atmospheric model extends from the ground to the exobase and is a major upgrade of the MSISE‐90 model in the thermosphere. The new model and the associated NRLMSIS database now include the following data: (1) total mass density from satellite accelerometers and from orbit determination (including the Jacchia and Barlier data sets), (2) temperature from incoherent scatter radar covering 1981–1997, and (3) molecular oxygen number density, [O 2 ], from solar ultraviolet occultation aboard the Solar Maximum Mission. A new component, “anomalous oxygen,” allows for appreciable O + and hot atomic oxygen contributions to the total mass density at high altitudes and applies primarily to…