The climate of the upper atmosphere (above ~50 km) is studied using a wide variety of contemporary and historical measurements of temperature, composition, and winds. We are interested in the systematic response of the thermosphere and mesosphere to (1) long- and short-term variations in radiative forcing (solar and terrestrial) and in solar wind and magnetospheric energy inputs, (2) anthropogenic composition changes, and (3) the climate and meteorology of the lower atmosphere. This research involves thorough statistical analysis of large and diverse data sets, characterization of significant geophysical variations and mutual biases among the data sets, development of comprehensive empirical models with appropriate physical constraints, assimilation of the data into the models, validation of the models, and comparison with first-principles physics models. A key aspect of the program is the continued development of NRLMSIS, the most comprehensive empirical model of atmospheric temperature and composition and HWM, the only global empirical model of atmospheric winds. These models are used extensively by the scientific and engineering communities in diverse applications such as atmospheric remote sensing, prediction of atmospheric drag on satellites, atmospheric gravity wave research, and ionospheric modeling.

 

key words

Upper atmosphere; Climate; Thermosphere; Mesosphere; Empirical models; Data analysis; Data assimilation; Space weather;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants