pyarts3.arts.geodetic.intersection_altitude

geodetic.intersection_altitude(ecef: pyarts3.arts.Vector3, decef: pyarts3.arts.Vector3, ell: pyarts3.arts.Vector2, alt: float, min_l: float = 0.0) → float

Finds the distance to the intersection between an ECEF line and an ellipsoid

A negative distance is returned if there is no intersection.

If multiple postive solutions, the smallest distance >= l_min is returned.

Note that there is no check if pos is below altitude, and the solution can match a position on the other side of the planet.

Parameters:

  • ecef (Vector3) – Start position (x,y,z)

  • decef (Vector3) – Normalised direction vector (dx,dy,dz)

  • ell (Vector2) – Ellipsoid (a,b)

  • alt (Numeric) – Altitude of the interserciont

  • min_l (Numeric) – Minimum distance (in case you are in an intersection point, this allows you to move)

Returns:

l – The intersection distance

Return type:

Numeric