Atmospheres of Extrasolar Giant Planets

Details Atmospheres of Extrasolar Giant Planets Atmospheres of Extrasolar Giant Planets

2006-02-21

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0602468v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

16 pages, 8 figures; invited review, Protostars and Planets V (Hawai, October 2005)

Scientific paper

The key to understanding an extrasolar giant planet's spectrum--and hence its detectability and evolution--lies with its atmosphere. Now that direct observations of thermal emission from extrasolar giant planets are in hand, atmosphere models can be used to constrain atmospheric composition, thermal structure, and ultimately the formation and evolution of detected planets. We review the important physical processes that influence the atmospheric structure and evolution of extrasolar giant planets and consider what has already been learned from the first generation of observations and modeling. We pay particular attention to the roles of cloud structure, metallicity, and atmospheric chemistry in affecting detectable properties through Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the transiting giant planets. Our review stresses the uncertainties that ultimately limit our ability to interpret EGP observations. Finally we will conclude with a look to the future as characterization of multiple individual planets in a single stellar system leads to the study of comparative planetary architectures.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Atmospheres of Extrasolar Giant Planets does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Atmospheres of Extrasolar Giant Planets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Atmospheres of Extrasolar Giant Planets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-453664