Oct 27 – 31, 2025
Europe/Stockholm timezone

Comprehensive Assessment of Thermospheric Models During Geomagnetic Storms at NASA/CCMC

Oct 27, 2025, 4:30 PM
15m
Tonsalen

Tonsalen

Oral CD5 - Open Validation in Space Weather Modeling CD5 - Open Validation in Space Weather Modeling

Speaker

Dr Jia Yue (CCMC/NASA GSFC)

Description

In this study, we present the results of a comprehensive assessment of thermosphere models under geomagnetic storm conditions, defined by a geomagnetic index ap ≥ 80. This work builds upon Bruinsma et al. (2024, DOI: 10.1051/swsc/2024027), which evaluated the performance of empirical and physics-based thermosphere models during storm periods. Utilizing models hosted at NASA's Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC), we conduct an unbiased evaluation of their performance. Model simulations are analyzed across four storm phases: pre-storm, onset, recovery, and post-storm, relative to the time of peak ap. After applying a debiasing procedure based on the pre-storm phase, we compare the modeled neutral density data to high-fidelity observational datasets from TU Delft, derived from CHAMP, GOCE, GRACE, GRACE-FO, and SWARM-A satellites.

Key performance metrics, including mean density ratios, standard deviations, and correlation coefficients, are used to construct thermosphere model scorecards. These scorecards provide a valuable resource for users to identify the most suitable model for specific applications. The ultimate objective of this study is to establish a near-real-time scorecard for thermosphere model assessment at NASA/CCMC, employing consistent and standardized metrics.

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Primary author

Jack Wang (CCMC/NASA GSFC)

Co-authors

Dr Jia Yue (CCMC/NASA GSFC) Dr Sean Bruinsma (Space Geodesy Office/CNES) Mr Joseph Sypal (Catholic University of America) Dr Masha Kuznetsova (CCMC/NASA GSFC) Dr Richard Mullinix (CCMC/NASA GSFC) Dr Chiu Wiegand (CCMC/NASA GSFC) Dr Christian Siemes (TU Delft) Dr Sophie Laurens (Space Geodesy Office/CNES) Mr Paul Dimarzio (Catholic University of America) Dr Min-Yang Chou (CCMC/NASA GSFC) Dr Maksym Petrenko (CCMC/NASA GSFC)

Presentation materials

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