Neutral mass density data compared with physics-based model estimates

Abstract

Observations of upper atmospheric neutral mass density (NMD) and wind are critical to understand the coupling mechanisms between Earth’s ionosphere, thermosphere, and magnetosphere. The Swarm DISC (data, innovation, and science cluster) project TOLEOS (thermosphere observations from low-Earth orbiting satellites) provide better calibrated NMD and crosswind data from CHAMP, GRACE, and GRACE-FO (follow-on) satellite missions. The project uses state-of-the-art models, calibration techniques, and processing standards to improve the accuracy of these data products and ensure inter-mission consistency. Here, we present preliminary results of the quality of the data in comparison to the physics-based TIE-GCM (thermosphere ionosphere electrodynamics general circulation model) model.