Giant Planets of Our Solar System: An Introduction

by Irwin, Patrick G. J.

• ISBN13: 9783540313175
• ISBN10: 3540313176
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-14
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

This book reviews the current state of knowledge of the atmospheres of the giant gaseous planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The current theories of their formation are reviewed and their recently observed temperature, composition and cloud structures are contrasted and compared with simple thermodynamic, radiative transfer and dynamical models. The instruments and techniques that have been used to remotely measure their atmospheric properties are also reviewed, and the likely development of outer planet observations over the next two decades is outlined.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgements	xiii
Abbreviations	xv
List of figures	xix
List of tables	xxiii
List of colour plates	xxv
Introduction	1	(16)
The giant outer planets	1	(4)
Observed atmospheres of the giant planets	5	(7)
Jupiter	5	(3)
Saturn	8	(1)
Uranus	9	(2)
Neptune	11	(1)
Satellites of the outer planets	12	(1)
Exploration of the outer planets	13	(1)
Organization of book	14	(1)
References	15	(1)
Bibliography	15	(2)
Formation of the giant planets	17	(36)
Formation of the universe and primordial constituents	17	(1)
Formation of the stars and evolution of the interstellar medium	18	(3)
Formation of the protosolar nebula	21	(7)
Collapse of the interstellar cloud	21	(2)
Formation of circumstellar disc	23	(5)
Formation of the Jovian planets and comets	28	(4)
Core accretion model	28	(4)
Gravitational instability model	32	(1)
Formation of Jovian satellites	32	(1)
Bulk composition of the outer planets and isotape ratios	33	(6)
Constraints on formation: D/H ratio	33	(6)
Constraints on formation: Nitrogen	39	(1)
Interiors of the giant planets	39	(8)
Gravitational data	39	(3)
Magnetic field data	42	(1)
Internal structure of Jupiter and Saturn	42	(3)
Internal structure of Uranus and Neptune	45	(2)
Migration and extrasolar planets	47	(1)
References	48	(3)
Bibliography	51	(2)
Evolution processes in outer planet atmospheres	53	(14)
Introduction	53	(1)
Thermal escape	53	(6)
Jeans' formula	53	(2)
Diffusion and limiting flux	55	(3)
Hydrodynamic escape	58	(1)
Impacts with comets and planetesimals	59	(1)
Internal differentiation processes	59	(3)
Effective radiating temperature of planets	60	(2)
Evolution of the giant planet atmospheres	62	(3)
Jupiter	62	(1)
Saturn	63	(1)
Uranus and Neptune	64	(1)
References	65	(1)
Bibliography	65	(2)
Vertical structure of temperature, composition, and clouds	67	(66)
Pressure and temperature profiles	67	(10)
Pressure	67	(1)
Temperature	68	(5)
Secondary effects on temperature/pressure profiles	73	(3)
Temperature/pressure profiles of the outer planets	76	(1)
Vertical mixing-eddy mixing coefficients	77	(4)
Composition profiles -- general considerations	81	(11)
Disequilibrium species	81	(3)
Photolysis	84	(5)
Condensation	89	(2)
Extraplanetary sources	91	(1)
Composition and cloud profiles of the giant planets	92	(33)
Jupiter	92	(11)
Saturn	103	(7)
Uranus	110	(6)
Neptune	116	(9)
References	125	(6)
Bibliography	131	(2)
Dynamical processes	133	(64)
Introduction	133	(1)
Mean circulation of the giant planet atmospheres	133	(14)
Equations of motion	135	(6)
Mean zonal motions in the giant planet atmospheres	141	(6)
Eddy motion in the giant planet atmospheres	147	(11)
Turbulence in the giant planet atmospheres	147	(4)
Waves in the giant planet atmospheres	151	(5)
Vortices in the giant planet atmospheres	156	(2)
Mean and eddy circulation of the giant planet atmospheres	158	(6)
Tropospheric circulation	158	(5)
Stratospheric and upper tropospheric circulation	163	(1)
Meteorology of Jupiter	164	(13)
General circulation and zonal structure	164	(5)
Storms and vortices	169	(4)
Waves	173	(4)
Meteorology of Saturn	177	(6)
General circulation and zonal structure	177	(2)
Storms and vortices	179	(1)
Waves	180	(3)
Meteorology of Uranus	183	(2)
General circulation and zonal structure	183	(1)
Storms and vortices	184	(1)
Waves	185	(1)
Meteorology of Neptune	185	(6)
General circulation and zonal structure	185	(2)
Storms and vortices	187	(3)
Waves	190	(1)
References	191	(5)
Bibliography	196	(1)
Radiative transfer processes in outer planetary atmospheres	197	(50)
Introduction	197	(1)
Interaction between electromagnetic radiation and particles	198	(2)
Fermi's golden rule	198	(1)
Electric and magnetic moments	199	(1)
Molecular spectroscopy: vibrational--rotational transitions	200	(12)
Molecular vibrational energy levels	200	(1)
Molecular rotational energy levels	201	(2)
Rotational transitions	203	(1)
Vibration--rotation bands	204	(4)
Inversion bands and inversion-doubling	208	(1)
Diatomic homonuclear molecules	208	(1)
Line-broadening	209	(2)
Giant planet gas transmission spectra	211	(1)
Radiative transfer in a grey atmosphere	212	(13)
Nadir viewing	213	(3)
Net flux and disc-averaging	216	(2)
Limb-viewing	218	(2)
Radiative balance	220	(1)
Local thermodynamic equilibrium	221	(1)
Transmission calculations	222	(3)
Scattering of light by particles	225	(4)
Rayleigh or dipole scattering	226	(1)
Mie theory	227	(1)
Non-spherical particles	228	(1)
Analytical forms of phase functions	229	(1)
Radiative transfer in scattering atmospheres	229	(4)
Plane-parallel approximation	230	(2)
Spherical atmospheres and limb-viewing: Monte Carlo simulations	232	(1)
Giant planet spectra	233	(9)
General features of giant planet spectra: UV to microwave	233	(1)
Near-IR and visible reflectance spectra	234	(2)
Thermal-IR spectra	236	(5)
Microwave spectra	241	(1)
Appendix	242	(2)
Planck function	242	(2)
References	244	(1)
Bibliography	245	(2)
Sources of remotely sensed data on the giant planets	247	(66)
Introduction	247	(1)
Measurement of visible, IR, and microwave spectra	248	(7)
Detection of IR radiation	248	(1)
Radiometers/photometers	249	(1)
Grating spectrometers	250	(1)
Michelson interferometers	251	(3)
Detection of microwave radiation	254	(1)
Ground-based observations of the gaint planets	255	(6)
Terrestrial atmospheric absorption	255	(2)
Angular resolution	257	(3)
Brightness	260	(1)
Ground-based visible/IR observatories	261	(7)
European Southern Observatory (ESO) -- Very Large Telescope (VLT)	263	(2)
The Mauna Kea observatories	265	(3)
Other major observatories	268	(1)
Airborne visible/IR observations	268	(2)
Kuiper Airborne Observatory	269	(1)
Ground-based microwave observatories	270	(6)
The Institut de RadioAstronomie Millimetrique (IRAM)	271	(1)
Very Large Array (VLA)	272	(1)
Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA)	273	(1)
Berkeley Illinois Maryland Association (BIMA)	274	(1)
Ownes Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO)	274	(1)
Nobeyama Millimeter Array (NMA)	275	(1)
Space-based telescopes	276	(8)
HST	277	(2)
ISO	279	(4)
Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS)	283	(1)
Flyby spacecraft	284	(8)
Pioneer	286	(2)
Voyager	288	(4)
Ulysses	292	(1)
Orbiting spacecraft	292	(11)
Galileo	292	(8)
Cassini/Huygens	300	(3)
Retrievals	303	(6)
Exact, least squares, and Backus--Gilbert solution	306	(1)
Linear optimal estimation	307	(2)
Non-linear optimal estimation	309	(1)
Joint retrievals	309	(1)
References	309	(1)
Bibliography	310	(3)
Index	313