Planetary Sciences

by Imke de Pater , Jack J. Lissauer

• ISBN13: 9780521482196
• ISBN10: 0521482194
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-12-17
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

The Space Age, with lunar missions and interplanetary probes, has revolutionized our understanding of the Solar System. Planets and large moons have become familiar worlds, with a diverse range of properties. Large numbers of asteroids, comets and small moons have now been discovered, and many of these objects studied in detail. As a result, our understanding of the process of star and planet formation is increasing all the time. Planetary Sciences presents a comprehensive coverage of this fascinating and expanding field at a level appropriate for graduate students and researchers in the physical sciences. The book explains the wide variety of physical, chemical and geological processes that govern the motions and properties of planets. Observations of the planets, moons, asteroids, comets and planetary rings in our Solar System, as well as extrasolar planets, are described, and the process of planetary formation is discussed.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Color Plates	xvii
Introduction	1	(18)
Inventory of the Solar System	1	(4)
Giant Planets	2	(1)
Terrestrial Planets and Other `Debris'	2	(1)
Satellite and Ring Systems	2	(2)
Heliosphere	4	(1)
Planetary Properties	5	(10)
Orbit	5	(2)
Mass	7	(5)
Size	12	(1)
Rotation	12	(1)
Shape	13	(1)
Temperature	13	(1)
Magnetic Field	14	(1)
Surface Composition	14	(1)
Surface Structure	14	(1)
Atmospheric Structure and Composition	14	(1)
Planetary Interiors	15	(1)
Formation of the Solar System	15	(4)
Further Reading	16	(1)
Problems	17	(2)
Dynamics	19	(26)
The Two-Body Problem	19	(3)
Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion	19	(1)
Newton's Laws of Motion and the Universal Law of Gravitation	19	(1)
Elliptical Motion, Orbital Elements, the Orbit in Space	20	(1)
Elliptical, Parabolic and Hyperbolic Orbits	21	(1)
Gravitational Potential	22	(1)
The Three-Body Problem	22	(3)
Jacobi's Constant and Lagrangian Points	22	(2)
Horseshoe and Tadpole Orbits	24	(1)
Hill Sphere	24	(1)
`Planetary' Perturbations and Resonances	25	(4)
Perturbed Keplerian Motion	25	(2)
Resonances	27	(1)
The Resonance Overlap Criterion and Jacobi-Hill Stability	28	(1)
Long-Term Stability of Planetary Orbits	29	(1)
Secular Perturbation Theory	29	(1)
Chaos and Planetary Motions	29	(1)
Orbits About an Oblate Planet	30	(1)
Gravitational Potential of an Axisymmetric Planet	30	(1)
Precession of Particle Orbits	31	(1)
Tides	31	(4)
The Tidal Force and Tidal Bulges	31	(1)
Tidal Torque	32	(3)
Dissipative Forces and the Orbits of Small Bodies	35	(10)
Radiation Force (micrometer-sized particles)	35	(1)
Poynting-Robertson Drag (centimeter-sized grains)	36	(1)
Yarkovski Effect (meter-kilometer-sized objects)	37	(1)
Corpuscular Drag (submicrometer-sized particles)	37	(1)
Gas Drag	38	(1)
Further Reading	38	(1)
Problems	39	(6)
Solar Heating and Energy Transport	45	(20)
Energy Balance and Temperature	45	(4)
Thermal (Blackbody) Radiation	45	(2)
Temperature	47	(2)
Energy Transport	49	(10)
Conduction	50	(1)
Radiation	51	(7)
Convection	58	(1)
Radiative Equilibrium in an Atmosphere	59	(6)
Thermal Profile	59	(1)
Atmosphere Heatd from Below: Greenhouse Effect	60	(1)
Further Reading	61	(1)
Problems	61	(4)
Planetary Atmospheres	65	(72)
Density and Scale Height	65	(1)
Thermal Structure	65	(7)
Heat Sources and Transport of Energy	67	(3)
Observed Thermal Structure	70	(2)
Atmospheric Composition	72	(17)
Spectra	72	(3)
Line Profiles	75	(2)
Observations	77	(12)
Clouds	89	(7)
Wet Adiabatic Lapse Rate	90	(3)
Clouds on Earth	93	(1)
Clouds on Other Planets	94	(2)
Meteorology	96	(14)
Winds Forced by Solar Heating	97	(1)
Wind Equations	98	(1)
Horizontal Winds	99	(3)
Storm Systems	102	(3)
Observations	105	(5)
Photochemistry	110	(15)
Photodissociation and Recombination	112	(5)
Photoionization: Ionospheres	117	(3)
Electric Currents	120	(2)
Airglow and Aurora	122	(3)
Molecular and Eddy Diffusion	125	(2)
Diffusion	125	(1)
Eddy Diffusion Coefficient	126	(1)
Atmospheric Escape	127	(2)
Thermal or Jeans Escape	127	(1)
Nonthermal Escape	128	(1)
Atmospheric Blowoff and Impact Erosion	129	(1)
Evolution of Terrestrial Planet Atmospheres and Climate	129	(8)
Earth	130	(1)
Mars	131	(1)
Venus	132	(1)
Further Reading	132	(1)
Problems	133	(4)
Planetary Surfaces	137	(75)
Mineralogy and Petrology	138	(6)
Minerals	138	(2)
Rocks	140	(4)
Crystallization of a Magma	144	(5)
Phases of the Magma	144	(2)
Magma	146	(3)
Surface Morphology	149	(9)
Gravity and Rotation	149	(1)
Tectonics	149	(2)
Volcanism	151	(5)
Atmospheric Effects on Landscape Morphology	156	(2)
Impact Cratering	158	(20)
Crater Morphology	159	(2)
Crater Formation	161	(7)
Impact Modification by Atmospheres	168	(1)
Spatial Density of Craters	169	(4)
The Impact of Comet D/Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter	173	(3)
Dangers of Impacts on Earth and the Extinction of the Dinosaurs	176	(2)
Surface Geology of Individual Bodies	178	(34)
Moon	179	(1)
Mercury	180	(2)
Venus	182	(4)
Mars	186	(7)
Satellites of Jupiter	193	(8)
Satellites of Saturn	201	(4)
Satellites of Uranus	205	(2)
Satellites of Neptune	207	(1)
Pluto and Charon	208	(1)
Further Reading	209	(1)
Problems	209	(3)
Planetary Interiors	212	(41)
Modeling the Interior Structure of a Planet	212	(15)
Hydrostatic Equilibrium	213	(1)
Constituent Relations	213	(5)
Equation of State	218	(1)
Gravity Field	219	(4)
Internal Heat: Sources and Losses	223	(4)
Seismic Tomography and the Earth's Interior	227	(9)
Seismology	228	(3)
Interior Structure of the Earth	231	(5)
Interior Structure of Other Terrestrial Bodies and Moons	236	(7)
Moon	236	(2)
Mercury	238	(1)
Venus	238	(1)
Mars	239	(3)
Solid Bodies in the Outer Solar System	242	(1)
Interior Structure of the Giant Planets	243	(10)
Modeling the Giant Planets	243	(1)
Interior Structure of Jupiter and Saturn	244	(1)
Interior Structure of Uranus and Neptune	245	(3)
Further Reading	248	(1)
Problems	248	(5)
Planetary Magnetospheres and the Interplanetary Medium	253	(54)
The Interplanetary Medium	253	(9)
Solar Wind	253	(5)
Maxwell's Equations	258	(1)
Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)	259	(1)
Interaction of the Solar Wind with Planets	259	(3)
Shocks	262	(1)
Magnetic Field Configuration: Mathematical Description	262	(3)
Overview	262	(1)
Dipole Magnetic Field	263	(1)
Multipole Expansion of the Magnetic Field	263	(2)
Magnetospheric Plasma and Particle Motions	265	(9)
Particle Motions: Adiabatic Invariants	265	(2)
Drift Motions in a Magnetosphere	267	(3)
Electric Fields	270	(2)
Particle Sources and Sinks	272	(1)
Particle Diffusion	273	(1)
Magnetospheres of Individual Bodies	274	(15)
Earth	274	(6)
Mercury	280	(1)
Venus, Mars and the Moon	280	(3)
Jupiter	283	(5)
Saturn	288	(1)
Uranus	288	(1)
Neptune	289	(1)
Radio Emissions	289	(8)
Low Frequency Radio Emissions	290	(1)
Synchrotron Radiation	291	(1)
Radio Observations	292	(5)
Waves in Magnetospheres	297	(4)
General Wave Theory (Summary)	297	(2)
MHD Waves	299	(1)
Plasma Waves	300	(1)
Generation of Magnetic Fields	301	(6)
Magnetic Dynamo Theory	301	(2)
Variability in Magnetic Fields	303	(1)
Further Reading	303	(1)
Problems	304	(3)
Meteorites	307	(24)
Basic Classification and Fall Statistics	307	(3)
Source Regions	310	(4)
Fall Phenomena: Atmospheric Entry to Impact	314	(3)
Chemical and Isotopic Fractionation	317	(1)
Chemical Separation	317	(1)
Isotopic Fractionation	317	(1)
Radiometric Dating	318	(4)
Radioactive Decay	318	(1)
Dating Rocks Containing Radioactive Isotopes	319	(2)
Extinct-Nuclide Dating	321	(1)
Interval Between Final Nucleosynthesis and Condensation	321	(1)
Cosmic Ray Exposure Ages	322	(1)
Physical Characteristics of Chondrites	322	(1)
Meteorite Clues to the Formation of the Solar System	323	(8)
Meteorites from Differentiated Bodies	324	(1)
Primitive Meteorites	324	(4)
Further Reading	328	(1)
Problems	328	(3)
Asteroids	331	(35)
Orbits	331	(4)
Size Distribution and Collisional Evolution	335	(5)
Size Distribution	335	(1)
Collisions	336	(1)
Rotation	337	(1)
Interplanetary Dust	338	(2)
Observing Techniques	340	(12)
Radiometry	341	(3)
Photometric Lightcurves	344	(1)
Polarimetry	344	(2)
Adaptive Optics	346	(1)
Interferometry	346	(2)
Radar Observations	348	(3)
Determination of an Asteroid's Mass and Density	351	(1)
Surface Composition	352	(5)
Asteroid Taxonomy	352	(4)
Spatial Distribution of Taxonomic Classes	356	(1)
Structure	357	(4)
Asteroid Surface Characteristics from Disk-Averaged Ground-Based Observations	357	(1)
Detailed Images of Individual Asteroids and Mors's Moons	358	(3)
Magnetic Fields?	361	(1)
Origin and Evolution of the Asteroid Belt	361	(5)
Further Reading	362	(1)
Problems	362	(4)
Comets	366	(37)
Nomenclature	366	(2)
Cometary Orbits and Comet Reservoirs	368	(4)
Oort Cloud	368	(1)
Kuiper Belt	369	(2)
Nongravitational Forces	371	(1)
Gaseous Coma	372	(13)
Solar Heating	372	(2)
Outflow of Gas	374	(1)
Photodissociation and Chemical Evolution	375	(1)
Excitation and Emission	376	(2)
Composition	378	(5)
X-Ray Emissions	383	(1)
Comet Taxonomy	384	(1)
Dust	385	(4)
Morphology	385	(2)
Observed Dust Properties	387	(2)
Escape of Dust	389	(1)
Magnetosphere	389	(3)
Morphology	390	(2)
Plasma Tail	392	(1)
Nucleus	392	(5)
Size, Shape and Albedo	392	(1)
Rotation	393	(1)
Splitting and Disruption	394	(1)
Surface Properties	395	(2)
Chemical Processing of Comets at Large Heliocentric Distances	397	(1)
Comet Formation and Constraints on Theories of Solar System Formation	397	(2)
Where did Comets and Cometary Ices Form?	398	(1)
Dynamical Constraints	398	(1)
Future	399	(4)
Further Reading	399	(1)
Problems	400	(3)
Planetary Rings	403	(36)
Tidal Forces and Roche's Limit	404	(2)
Flattening and Spreading of Rings	406	(2)
Observations of Planetary Rings	408	(11)
Jupiter's Rings	408	(3)
Saturn's Rings	411	(5)
Uranus's Rings	416	(3)
Neptune's Rings	419	(1)
Ring-Moon Interactions	419	(10)
Resonances	419	(2)
Spiral Density Waves and Spiral Bending Waves	421	(5)
Shepherding	426	(2)
Longitudinal Confinement	428	(1)
Physics of Dust Rings	429	(3)
Radiation Forces	430	(1)
Interactions of Charged Grains with Planetary Magnetospheres	430	(2)
Spokes in Saturn's Rings	432	(1)
Meteoroid Bombardment of Planetary Rings	432	(2)
Accretion of Interplanetary Debris	433	(1)
Ballistic Transport	433	(1)
Mass Supply to Rings from Satellite Ejecta	433	(1)
Origins of Planetary Rings	434	(1)
Summary	435	(4)
Further Reading	436	(1)
Problems	436	(3)
Planet Formation	439	(37)
Observational Constraints	439	(1)
Nucleosynthesis: A Concise Summary	440	(3)
Primordial Nucleosynthesis	440	(1)
Stellar Nucleosynthesis	441	(2)
Star Formation: A Brief Overview	443	(3)
Molecular Cloud Cores	443	(1)
Collapse of Molecular Cloud Cores and Star Formation	443	(1)
Observations of Star Formation	444	(2)
Observations of Circumstellar Disks	446	(1)
Evolution of the Solar Nebula: The Protoplanetary Disk	446	(7)
Infall Stage	448	(1)
Internal Dynamical Evolution of the Disk	448	(2)
Chemistry in the Disk	450	(2)
Clearing Stage	452	(1)
Condensation and Growth of Solid Bodies	453	(6)
Timescales for Planetesimal Formation	453	(1)
Formation of Solid Planetesimals	453	(2)
Growth from Planetesimals to Planetary Embryos	455	(4)
Formation of the Terrestrial Planets	459	(3)
Dynamics of the Final Stages of Planetesimal Accumulation	459	(1)
Accretional Heating and Planetary Differentation	460	(1)
Accumulation (and Loss) of Atmospheric Volatiles	461	(1)
Formation of the Giant Planets	462	(2)
Gas-Instability Hypothesis (Giant Gaseous Protoplanets)	463	(1)
Core-Instability Hypothesis	463	(1)
Planetary Migration	464	(1)
Small Bodies in Orbit About the Sun	465	(1)
Asteroids and Meteorites	465	(1)
Comets	465	(1)
Planetary Rotation	466	(1)
Origin of Planetary Satellites	466	(2)
Confronting Theory with Observations	468	(8)
Dynamical State of the Solar System	469	(1)
Composition of Planetary Bodies	470	(1)
Conclusions	470	(1)
Further Reading	470	(1)
Problems	471	(5)
Extrasolar Planets	476	(11)
Physics and Sizes of Giant Planets, Brown Dwarfs and Low-Mass Stars	476	(2)
Detecting Extrasolar Planets	478	(2)
Pulsar Timing	478	(1)
Radial Velocity Measurements	478	(1)
Astrometry	478	(1)
Photometric Detection of Transits	479	(1)
Microlensing	479	(1)
Imaging	480	(1)
Other Techniques	480	(1)
Observations of Extrasolar Planets	480	(2)
Models for the Formation of Planets Observed to Orbit Main Sequence Stars Other Than the Sun	482	(1)
Planets and Life	483	(1)
SETI	484	(1)
Conclusions	484	(3)
Further Reading	486	(1)
Problems	486	(1)
Appendix A: List of Symbols Used	487	(4)
Appendix B: Units, Constants, Conversions	491	(2)
Appendix C: Periodic Table of the Elements	493	(2)
References	495	(14)
Index	509