pvl_alt2pres.m

function Press=pvl_alt2pres(altitude)
% PVL_ALT2PRES Determine site pressure from altitude
%
% Syntax
%   Press = pvl_alt2pres(altitude)
% 
% Description
%   PVL_ALT2PRES determines the atmospheric pressure (in Pascals) of a 
%   site on Earth's surface given its altitude (in meters above sea level). 
%   Output "Press" is given in Pascals. Press is of the same size 
%   as altitude.
%
% Assumptions include:
%   Base pressure = 101325 Pa
%   Temperature at zero altitude = 288.15 K
%   Gravitational acceleration = 9.80665 m/s^2
%   Lapse rate = -6.5E-3 K/m
%   Gas constant for air = 287.053 J/(kg*K)
%   Relative Humidity = 0%
% 
% Inputs:
%   altitude - altitude (in meters above sea level)
%
% Outputs:
%   pressure - atmospheric pressure (in Pascals) of a 
%              site on Earth's surface given its altitude
%
% References:
%   "A Quick Derivation relating altitude to air pressure" from Portland
%   State Aerospace Society, Version 1.03, 12/22/2004.
%
% See also PVL_PRES2ALT PVL_MAKELOCATIONSTRUCT
p = inputParser;
p.addRequired('altitude',@(x) all(isnumeric(x)));
p.parse(altitude);

Press = 100* ((44331.514 - altitude)/11880.516).^(1/0.1902632);