Altitude Profiles

Exo Skryer provides several vertical altitude calculation functions in the vert_alt module.

Hypsometric - Constant Gravity

Uses hypsometic equation to calculate altitude assuming a constant gravity throughout the atmosphere. Reference pressure is assumed to be at the highest pressure of the atmosphere.

\[\Delta z = \frac{k_{\rm b}T}{\overline{\mu} \cdot {\rm amu} g_{\rm ref}} \ln\left(\frac{p_{\rm lower}}{p_{\rm upper}}\right)\]

Example YAML Configuration:

physics:
  vert_alt: hypsometric

params:
  - { name: log_10_g, dist: uniform, low: 2.7, high: 3.3, transform: logit, init: 3.0 }

Hypsometric - Variable Gravity

Uses hypsometic equation to calculate altitude with variable gravity throughout the atmosphere, from a reference gravity, \(log_{10} g\), and radius, \(R_{\rm p}\). Reference pressure is assumed to be at the highest pressure of the atmosphere.

\[g(z) = g_{\rm ref} \left(\frac{R_{\rm ref}}{R_{\rm ref} + z}\right)^{2}\]

Example YAML Configuration:

physics:
  vert_alt: hypsometric_variable_g

params:
  - { name: log_10_g, dist: uniform, low: 2.0, high: 5.0, transform: logit, init: 3.5 }
  - { name: R_p, dist: uniform, low: 0.8, high: 1.5, transform: logit, init: 1.0 }

Hypsometric - Variable Gravity with Reference Pressure

Uses hypsometic equation to calculate altitude with variable gravity throughout the atmosphere, from a reference gravity and radius. Reference pressure is given in the YAML parameters.

Example YAML Configuration:

physics:
  vert_alt: hypsometric_variable_g_pref

params:
  - { name: log_10_g, dist: uniform, low: 2.0, high: 5.0, transform: logit, init: 3.5 }
  - { name: R_p, dist: uniform, low: 0.8, high: 1.5, transform: logit, init: 1.0 }
  - { name: log_10_p_ref, dist: delta,   value: 0.0, transform: identity, init: 0.0}