= Semi-grey irradiated atmosphere
A <semi-grey irradiated atmosphere> uses separate averaged <opacities> for incoming stellar light and outgoing planetary <thermal radiation>. Their ratio $\gamma=\kappa_{\rm vis}/\kappa_{\rm IR}$ compares where the two energy streams interact with matter. Large visible <opacity> relative to infrared <opacity> deposits stellar heat at a relatively small thermal <optical depth>; sufficiently strong high-altitude heating can produce an <atmospheric thermal inversion>.<On the radiative equilibrium of irradiated planetary atmospheres by Tristan Guillot>[Abstract: analytic temperature-optical-depth relation and inversion from optical versus infrared opacity]{ref}
The model connects <irradiation temperature>, <internal effective temperature of a planet> and heating depth to an <atmospheric pressure-temperature profile>. It is useful for interpreting broad thermal structure, but averaging each band suppresses spectral windows and molecular lines that matter in detailed <atmospheric retrieval>.
Back to article page
