About Us

What is TIMED?


TIMED is an acronym for Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere, Energetics and Dynamics. The TIMED mission is studying the influences of the sun and humans on the least explored and understood region of Earth's atmosphere -- the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere/Ionosphere (MLTI). TIMED is focusing on a portion of this region located approximately 40-110 miles (60-180 kilometers) above Earth's surface.

The science objective of the TIMED mission is to understand the MLTI region's basic pressure, temperature and wind that result from the transfer of energy into and out of this region. This mission is helping scientists gain a better understanding of the dynamics of this gateway region and its effects on communications, satellite tracking, spacecraft lifetimes, degradation of spacecraft materials and on spacecraft reentering Earth's atmosphere.

Co-Principal Investigators
Guy Brasseur
Phone: 303-497-1632
Fax:   303-497-1400
Email: brasseur@ucar.edu
Anne Smith
Phone: 303-497-1876
Fax:   303-497-1400
Email: aksmith@ucar.edu

Co-Investigators

Gaston Kockarts, Belgium Institute for Space Aeronomy
Ernest Kopp, University of Bern (Switzerland)
Dan Marsh, Atmospheric Chemistry Division, NCAR

Address

TIMED
Atmospheric Chemistry Division
National Center for Atmospheric Research
3450 Mitchell Lane
Boulder, CO 80301