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 ninja
• Linux: apt install gfortran ninja-build
• Windows and extract ninja to your PATH.

Get MSISE00 and install Python package:

pip install msise00

or for the latest development code

git clone https://github.com/space-physics/msise00

python -m pip install -e msise00

Build on Run

The Fortran code will automatically compile on first import msise00. This does not use setuptools and so is OS / Python distribution method agnostic.

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 will automatically compile "build on run" on first run from Matlab or Octave.

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