MSISE-00 in Python and Matlab

NRL MSISE-00 atmospheric model for Python ≥ 3.6, also accessible via Matlab or GNU Octave. Valid from altitude z = 0..1000 km.

The plot immediately below shows a slice at 200km on a world-wide grid. The yellow ball represents the sun footprint on Earth.

This plot is from Matlab calling MSISE00:

Install

This process is used for the Python and Matlab access to MSIS. Any Fortran compiler should work. Fortran compiler may be installed by

• MacOS / Homebrew: brew install gcc
• Linux: apt install gfortran
• Windows

Get MSISE00 and install Python package

git clone https://github.com/scivision/msise00

python -m pip install -e msise00

The Fortran code will automatically compile on first import. If you need to recompile manually:

python msise00/build.py

Examples

MSISE00 can be used from the command line, as an imported module, and even from Matlab.

import module

import msise00
from datetime import datetime

atmos = msise00.run(time=datetime(2013, 3, 31, 12), altkm=150., glat=65., glon=-148.)

atmos is an xarray.Dataset containing all the simulation output values. atmos is 4-D: (time, altitude, lat, lon), and indexed like atmos['N2']

Command Line

Write NetCDF4 output (HDF5 compatible) with command line argument -w filename.nc.

Simple examples include:

• AltitudeProfile.py

• TimeProfile.py

• Worldgrid.py

• Altitude Profile at a single time:

  python MSISE00.py -t 2017-08-21T20:48 -c 40 -90
  

• Alt. profile time-range with hourly time step:

  python MSISE00.py -t 2017-08-21 2017-08-22 -c 40 -90
  

• Grid: time,lat,lon: generates the plots in the README:

  python MSISE00.py -t 2016-09-20 2016-09-21
  

• single time lat/lon can be plotted:

  python MSISE00.py -t 2017-01-02T12
  

Matlab

Matlab and GNU Octave users use of MSISE00 is demonstrated in AltitudeProfile.m and msise00.m.

MSISE00 should automatically compile on first run from Matlab or Octave. If you desire, manually compile MSISe00 by running build.m from within Matlab or Octave:

cd matlab

build()

Optionally, verify Matlab is working by from the top msise00/ directory in Terminal

matlab -batch runtests('tests')

Fortran source

The MSISE00 Fortran source code may also be used directly. We have provided for easy code reuse in CMake and Meson projects.

Reference

• Original fortran code
• 1200+ citations 2002 paper