D. Bilitza
NASA/GSFC, Heliospheric Physics Lab., Code 672, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
and George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
(301) 286-0190, dieter.bilitza-1@nasa.gov, dbilitza@gmu.edu
NASA/GSFC, Heliospheric Physics Lab., Code 672, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
and George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
(301) 286-0190, dieter.bilitza-1@nasa.gov, dbilitza@gmu.edu
PARAMETERS:
Electron density, electron temperature, ion temperature, ion composition (O+, H+, He+, NO+, O+2), ion drift, ionopsheric electron content (TEC), F1 and spread-F probabilityBRIEF DESCRIPTION:
The International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) is an international project sponsored by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the International Union of Radio Science (URSI). These organizations formed a Working Group (members) in the late sixties to produce an empirical standard model of the ionosphere, based on all available data sources (charter ). Several steadily improved editions of the model have been released. For given location, time and date, IRI describes the electron density, electron temperature, ion temperature, and ion composition in the altitude range from about 50 km to about 2000 km; and also the electron content. It provides monthly averages in the non-auroral ionosphere for magnetically quiet conditions. The major data sources are the worldwide network of ionosondes, the powerful incoherent scatter radars (Jicamarca, Arecibo, Millstone Hill, Malvern, St. Santin), the ISIS and Alouette topside sounders, and in situ instruments on several satellites and rockets. IRI is updated yearly during special IRI Workshops (e.g., during COSPAR general assembly). More information can be found in the workshop reports. Several extensions are planned, including models for the ion drift, description of the auroral and polar ionosphere, and consideration of magnetic storm effects.
An IRI Newsletter is published quarterly. Please contact the Newsletter
editor K. Oyama
if you would like to be included on the distribution list. There is
also an electronic mailer with uptodate
IRI-relevant information.
The IRI master copy is held at the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC)
and updated according to the decisions of the Working Group. The software
package distributed by NSSDC includes the FORTRAN
subroutines, model coefficients (CCIR and URSI), and documentation files.
The IRI build-up and formulas described in detail in a 158-page NSSDC report
(Bilitza, 1990).
AVAILABILITY:
* IRI-2007: Fortran source code from NSSDC's anonymous FTP site
* IRI-2007: Online computation and plotting through IRIweb
* IRI-2001: PC Windows version from University of Mass. Lowell site
* IRI-2001: Online computation and plotting through CCMC
* IRI-2007: Fortran source code from NSSDC's anonymous FTP site
* IRI-2007: Online computation and plotting through IRIweb
* IRI-2001: PC Windows version from University of Mass. Lowell site
* IRI-2001: Online computation and plotting through CCMC
RELATED LINKS:
* MIT: Real-time IRI worldmaps and movies (last 24 hours) link
* IPS: Maps of real-time TEC for Autraliasia, North America, Europe, and Japan
* WDC Kyoto: Computation of ionospheric conductivities using IRI90 and CIRA72 models link
* NASA GRC: MPEG movies of global maps of IRI density and tmeperature link
* NASA LRC: Models page of LDEF Archive System link
* SPENVIS: The SPace ENVironment Information System developed at the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy for ESA/ESTEC link
* U Leicester: IRI TEC maps link
* MIT: Real-time IRI worldmaps and movies (last 24 hours) link
* IPS: Maps of real-time TEC for Autraliasia, North America, Europe, and Japan
* WDC Kyoto: Computation of ionospheric conductivities using IRI90 and CIRA72 models link
* NASA GRC: MPEG movies of global maps of IRI density and tmeperature link
* NASA LRC: Models page of LDEF Archive System link
* SPENVIS: The SPace ENVironment Information System developed at the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy for ESA/ESTEC link
* U Leicester: IRI TEC maps link
NSSDC ID: MI-91J
K. Rawer, D. Bilitza, and S. Ramakrishnan, Goals and Status of the
International Reference Ionosphere, Rev. Geophys., 16, 177-181, 1978.
K. Rawer, S. Ramakrishnan, and D. Bilitza, International Reference Ionosphere
1978, International Union of Radio Science, URSI Special Report, 75 pp.,
Bruxelles, Belgium, 1978.
K. Rawer, J. V. Lincoln, and R. O. Conkright, International Reference
Ionosphere-IRI 79, World Data Center A for Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Report
UAG-82, 245 pp., Boulder, Colorado, 1981.
K. Rawer and C. M. Minnis, Experience with and Proposed Improvements of the
International Reference Ionosphere (IRI), World Data Center A for
Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Report UAG-90, 235 pp., Boulder, Colorado, 1984.
D. Bilitza (ed.), International Reference Ionosphere 1990, NSSDC 90-22,
Greenbelt, Maryland, 1990.
[PDF1: pages 0-84, PDF2: pages 85-end]
D. Bilitza, K. Rawer, L. Bossy, and T. Gulyaeva, International
Reference Ionosphere - Past, Present, Future, Adv. Space Res. 13, #3,
3-23, 1993.
D. Bilitza and K. Rawer, International Reference Ionosphere, pp735-772,
in: The Upper Atmosphere - Data Analysis and Interpretation, W. Dieminger,
G. Hartmann and R. Leitinger (eds.), Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 1996.
D. Bilitza, International Reference Ionosphere - Status 1995/96,
Adv. Space Res. 20, #9, 1751-1754, 1997.
D. Bilitza, International Reference Ionosphere 2000,
Radio Science 36, #2, 261-275, 2001. [PDF]
D. Bilitza, International Reference Ionosphere 2000: Examples of improvements and
new features, Adv. Space Res. 31, #3, 757-767, 2003.
B. Reinisch and D. Bilitza, Karl Rawer's life and the history of IRI, Adv.
Space Res. 34, #9, 1845-1950, doi:10.1016/j.asr.204.09.002, 2004.
D. Bilitza and Reinisch, B., International Reference Ionosphere 2007:
Improvements and new parameters, J. Adv. Space Res.,
doi:10.1016/j.asr.2007.07.048, 2008
