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4.3.5.3 Brief Description:

The COSPAR International Reference Atmosphere (CIRA) provides empirical models of atmospheric temperature and densities (see above for more information). Above 120 km, in the thermosphere, CIRA-86 is identical with the MSIS-86 model. In addition to the empirical model, CIRA-86 includes the theoretical thermosphere model of D. Rees and his colleagues at University College, London. Results from 50 global simulations with this model have been stored in computer-readable form and can be reconstructed on VAX or PC computers.