Package: ppigrf
Pure Python International Geomagnetic Reference FieldPure Python code to calculate IGRF model predictions. The IGRF is a model of the Earth's main magnetic field that is updated every 5 years.
Seehttps://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/IAGA/vmod/igrf.htmlfor details andhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-020-01163-9for even more details.The code is vectorized, so calculations should be pretty fast.InstallThe only dependencies are Numpy and Pandas. Install by eitherpip install ppigrfor clone the repository and runpython setup.py installAlso, if you don't want to install a module but use the code in your project, just grap ppigrf.py and the .shc file (from src/ppigrf) and place it in your working directory. That's all.ExampleAll the above choices should enable you to import like this:importppigrfIGRF model values depend on time and position. Time can be given as one or more datetimes. The position can be specified in either geodetic or geocentric coordinates. Example with geodetic coordinates:fromdatetimeimportdatetimelon=5.32415# degrees eastlat=60.39299# degrees northh=0# kilometers above sea leveldate=datetime(2021,3,28)Be,Bn,Bu=ppigrf.igrf(lon,lat,h,date)# returns east, north, upGeodetic coordinates take the ellipsoidal shape of the Earth into account. The northward component returned by the igrf function is tangential to the ellipsoid, and in general not tangential to an Earth centered sphere. The upward component is perpendicular to the ellipsoid, and in general not perpendicular to the sphere.In some cases it is more convenient to work in geocentric coordinates, which are purely spherical. To do that, use the igrf_gc function:r=6500# kilometers from center of Earhttheta=30# colatitude in degreesphi=4# degrees east (same as lon)Br,Btheta,Bphi=ppigrf.igrf_gc(r,theta,phi,date)# returns radial, south, eastIt is also possible to calculate magnetic field values on a grid. The code uses broadcasting rules for the coordinate inputs. You can also pass multiple dates. If you passKtime stamps, together with coordinates with a combined shape of e.g.,(L, M, N), the output will have shape(K, L, M, N). Example:lon=np.array([20,120,220])lat=np.array([[60,60,60],[-60,-60,-60]])h=0dates=[datetime(y,1,1)foryinnp.arange(1960,2021,20)]Be,Bn,Bu=ppigrf.igrf(lon,lat,h,dates)The output will have shape(4, 2, 3).Why?There are lots of Python modules that can calculate IGRF values. Most are wrappers of Fortran code, which can be tricky to compile. This version is pure Python. For most applications it is still quite fast. I also prefer the ppigrf interface over the alternatives.The code is also super portable: Just copy ppigrf.py and the .shc file to your project and you're done.NotesThe model coefficients are read from an .shc file. This is a file format that is used for certain spherical harmonic magnetic field models. See a selection of .shc model files here:https://github.com/ESA-VirES/MagneticModel/blob/staging/eoxmagmod/eoxmagmod/data/It should be straightforward to swap the IGRF .shc file with another model, but keep in mind that the time dependence may be implemented differently in other models. IGRF, and this code, uses linear interpolation between model updates, and changing the model file will not change the ppigrf interpolation setup.The code is vectorized, so it will be quite fast, but probably not as fast as compiled Fortran code. One application which may require more optimization is field line tracing: In the current implementation, the coefficients are loaded and interpolated in time for every function call, which gives a lot of unnecessary overhead.Thanks to Juha Vierinen for the setup script, and for making ppigrf available via PyPI.ContactIf you find errors, please let me know!You don't need permission to copy or use this code, but I would be happy to know if it is useful for anyone else.karl.laundal at uib.no