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U. S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976

Document ID: 334

Sissenwine, Norman¹
Teweles, Sidney¹
Dubin, Maurice¹

Technical Report

¹ U. S. Committee on Extension to the Standard Atmosphere (COESA)
 

Abstract

The U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976, which is a revision of the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1962, was generated under the impetus of increased knowledge of the upper atmosphere obtained over the past solar cycle. Above 50 km, this Standard is based on extensive new rocket data and theory for the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, and on the vast resources of satel­lite data for the thermosphere acquired over more than one complete solar cycle. This Standard is identical with the ICAO Standard (1964) up to 32 km and the ISO Standard (1973) to 50 km. Part 1 gives the basis for compu­tation of the main tables of atmospheric properties, including values of physical constants, conversion factors, and definitions of derived properties. Part 2 describes the model and data used up to 85 km, in the first section; and the model and data used above 85 km, in the second section. The theoreti­cal basis of the high-altitude model is given in an appendix. Part 3 contains information on minor constituents in the troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere. The main tables of atmospheric properties to 1000 km are given in Part 4. The international system of metric units is used.

Notes

Al,
Here is the USSA76 model which is still widely used today (Printed by the Gov Printing Office). Most of the Tables are based on my nine satellite and several rocket instruments (mass-spectrometers) that measured the density of the different gasses composing the upper atmosphere (50 to 1000 km altitude). You will not find my name in the front of the book, it lists a couple of the managers that were higher than me in the organization -- the reference to one of my papers are referenced near the end of the book.

 

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Keywords: lower atmosphere, meteorological parameters, standards, upper atmosphere, atmospheric models, radiosonde, rocket sounding, stratosphere, troposphere

Citation:

"U. S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976", Sissenwine, N., S. Teweles, M. Dubin, U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, October 1976, pp. 1 - 227, NASA-TM-X-74335, NOAA-S/T 76-1562