Articles | Volume 44, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-44-303-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-44-303-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Next-generation Ionospheric Model for Operations – validation and demonstration for space weather and research
Angeline G. Burrell
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Geospace Science and Technology Branch, Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC, USA
Sarah McDonald
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Geospace Science and Technology Branch, Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC, USA
Dustin Hickey
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Geospace Science and Technology Branch, Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC, USA
Meghan Burleigh
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Geospace Science and Technology Branch, Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC, USA
Eliana Nossa
The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA, USA
Christopher A. Metzler
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Geospace Science and Technology Branch, Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC, USA
Manbharat Dhadly
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Geospace Science and Technology Branch, Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC, USA
Jennifer L. Tate
Computational Physics, Inc., Springfield, VA, USA
Ellen J. Wagner
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Geospace Science and Technology Branch, Space Science Division, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC, USA
Related authors
Fabrizio Sassi, Angeline G. Burrell, Sarah E. McDonald, Jennifer L. Tate, and John P. McCormack
Ann. Geophys., 42, 255–269, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-255-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-255-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study shows how middle-atmospheric data (starting at 40 km) affect day-to-day ionospheric variability. We do this by using lower atmospheric measurements that include and exclude the middle atmosphere in a coupled ionosphere–thermosphere model. Comparing the two simulations reveals differences in two thermosphere–ionosphere coupling mechanisms. Additionally, comparison against observations showed that including the middle-atmospheric data improved the resulting ionosphere.
Fabrizio Sassi, Angeline G. Burrell, Sarah E. McDonald, Jennifer L. Tate, and John P. McCormack
Ann. Geophys., 42, 255–269, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-255-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-255-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study shows how middle-atmospheric data (starting at 40 km) affect day-to-day ionospheric variability. We do this by using lower atmospheric measurements that include and exclude the middle atmosphere in a coupled ionosphere–thermosphere model. Comparing the two simulations reveals differences in two thermosphere–ionosphere coupling mechanisms. Additionally, comparison against observations showed that including the middle-atmospheric data improved the resulting ionosphere.
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Short summary
The Next-generation Ionospheric Model for Operations (NIMO) is a space weather model developed to provide historic, current, and forecasted information about the density of the ionosphere. This article discusses how NIMO is configured, demonstrates potential use cases for the research community, and validates historic runs using a new suite of metrics designed to allow repeatable, quantitative, model-independent evaluations against observations that may be adopted by other ionospheric models.
The Next-generation Ionospheric Model for Operations (NIMO) is a space weather model developed...