Neutral Atmospheres

Abstract

The upper atmosphere, in fact the entire barosphere, can be characterized by its pressure and density distribution. The starting point for the derivation of this distribution is the hydrostatic equation

$$dp = - g\rho dz$$

(2.1)

and the perfect gas law

$$p = n{k_B}T$$

(2.2)

where p is the pressure, g is the acceleration of gravity, ρ = nm is the mass density with n the number density, m = ∑ _j n _j m _j /n _j is the mean molecular mass, k _B = 1.38 × 10⁻¹⁶ erg/K is the Boltzmann constant, T is the absolute temperature and z is the height variable.