ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Upper-atmospheric models

Imagine you are standing on a really tall mountain, looking up at the sky. Above you, there is a layer of gas called the "atmosphere," which goes all the way up to space. The atmosphere is made up of different gases like oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.

Scientists who study the atmosphere want to understand what happens up there, especially at very high altitudes. They use something called "upper-atmospheric models" to help them.

These models are like computer programs that can simulate what happens in the atmosphere. They take data on things like temperature, air pressure, and the different gases in the atmosphere, and use that data to make predictions about how the atmosphere will behave.

One thing these models can help scientists understand is something called "airglow." This is a faint glow in the atmosphere that happens at night, and it's caused by chemical reactions between different gases high up in the atmosphere. By using upper-atmospheric models, scientists can figure out why and how airglow happens.

Another thing these models can study is something called the "thermosphere." This is a layer of the atmosphere that's very high up, and it's where things like satellites and the International Space Station orbit. Upper-atmospheric models can help scientists understand how the thermosphere behaves, which is important for things like predicting when space weather events might happen.

So, in summary, upper-atmospheric models are computer programs that help scientists study what happens in the atmosphere at very high altitudes. They can help us understand things like airglow and the thermosphere.