Demobaric formula

(Also "gating pressure formula") An equation expressing the relationship between the population pressure in a given area of space, and the percentage of the planet's population present in that area during a given time period. The relationship between these two variables is expressed by the threshold constant. The balance among the variables and the constant suggests how likely a given world is to produce worldgates, and how many. As a general rule, the higher the population present in a given area, and the longer their duration there, the more likely worldgates are to appear spontaneously or to spawn. See the main 'Worldgate' entry for a more complete discussion.

Each planet has its own version of this formula, with differing values for the variables and the constant. The relationship between them all will normally change over time as the population of any given planet shifts.

(See also Worldgate complexes.)