<p>The term "superficial" means "on the surface," so "superficial gravity" is the same as surface gravity. As @pela pointed out in the comments, the author of the article is Portuguese and in that language the word for surface is 'superficie.'</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-08T23:17:33.420Z
2017-04-08T23:17:33.420Z
Asher
<p>I have seen the term superficial gravity used and it seems to be equivalent to surface gravity</p>

<p>seen, e.g., here <a href="http://arxiv.org/pdf/1701.02295" rel="noreferrer">http://arxiv.org/pdf/1701.02295</a></p>

<p>Is there any difference between superficial and surface gravity? When should one be using one or the other?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-02T18:39:02.133Z
The author is Portuguese. In Portuguese, "surface" is "superfície". If you look at the equations, you'll see that the definition ($\log g$) corresponds to "surface gravity". I suspect the standard term has been lost in translation.
pela
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-08T23:14:56.880Z
@pela even in English the word "superficial" means "on (or above) the surface."
Asher
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-18T15:23:46.603Z
The author in not Portuguese. Brazilian, instead. But he speaks Portuguese, though.
LuisTavares
<gravity><terminology><white-dwarf>
What is "superficial gravity"
imanorc
# What is "superficial gravity"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-04-02)

I have seen the term superficial gravity used and it seems to be equivalent to surface gravity

seen, e.g., here <http://arxiv.org/pdf/1701.02295>

Is there any difference between superficial and surface gravity? When should one be using one or the other?

**Tags:** gravity, terminology, white-dwarf

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The author is Portuguese. In Portuguese, "surface" is "superfície". If you look at the equations, you'll see that the definition ($\log g$) corresponds to "surface gravity". I suspect the standard term has been lost in translation.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 even in English the word "superficial" means "on (or above) the surface."  
> **username_3**: The author in not Portuguese. Brazilian, instead. But he speaks Portuguese, though.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-04-08. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The term "superficial" means "on the surface," so "superficial gravity" is the same as surface gravity. As @username_1 pointed out in the comments, the author of the article is Portuguese and in that language the word for surface is 'superficie.'


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