Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.4207l&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #42.07
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Hot Neptune GJ436b is one of the smallest and least irradiated of the transiting extrasolar planets. Because of its size, mass and density, GJ436b is likely to have an atmospheric composition similar to Neptune (30-50 times solar abundances), which makes it an ideal target to study the effects of atmospheric composition on dynamics and radiative transfer in an extrasolar planetary atmosphere. GJ436b's eccentric orbit (e=0.15) results in time-variable heating of the planet's atmosphere and expected non-synchronous rotation both of which can affect the atmospheric dynamics of this planet. We present three-dimensional atmospheric circulation models that include realistic radiative transfer for 1, 3, 10, 30, and 50 times solar atmospheric metallicity cases of GJ436b. Our low metallicity models (1 and 3 times solar) show little day to night temperature variation and strong high-latitude jets. In contrast, our higher metallicity models (30 and 50 times solar) show evidence of day-night temperature variations and a strong equatorial jet. Lower metallicity models show cooler and more homogenous temperature structures that result in relatively flat lightcurves that do not fit current 8 micron data. Lightcurves produced from our 50 times solar metallicity model show a stronger day-night temperature contrast and fit the available 8 micron secondary eclipse data without the need for additional atmospheric heating sources, such as tidal heating. This work was supported by NASA's Origins and NESSF programs.
Fortney Jonathan J.
Freedman Richard Stuart
Lewis Nikole
Lodders Katharina
Marley Mark S.
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