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A Globally Averaged Thermospheric Density Data Set Derived From Two‐Line Orbital Element Sets and Special Perturbations State Vectors
Author(s) -
Emmert J. T.,
Dhadly M. S.,
Segerman A. M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1029/2021ja029455
Subject(s) - element (criminal law) , line (geometry) , set (abstract data type) , state (computer science) , physics , mathematics , mathematical analysis , statistical physics , geometry , algorithm , computer science , political science , law , programming language
We describe a long‐term data set of global average thermospheric mass density derived from orbit data on ∼7,700 objects in low Earth orbit, via the effect of atmospheric drag. The data cover the years 1967–2019 and altitudes 250–575 km, and the temporal resolution is 3–4 days for most years. The data set is an extension and revision of a previous version. The most important change is the use of more precise orbit data: special perturbation state vectors are now used starting in 2001, instead of mean Keplerian orbital elements. The data are suitable for climatological studies of thermospheric variations and trends, and for space weather studies on time scales longer than 3 days.