Andrew P. Ingersoll
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691145044
- eISBN:
- 9781400848232
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691145044.001.0001
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Climate
This clear and concise introduction to planetary climates explains the global physical and chemical processes that determine climate on any planet or major planetary satellite—from Mercury to Neptune ...
More
This clear and concise introduction to planetary climates explains the global physical and chemical processes that determine climate on any planet or major planetary satellite—from Mercury to Neptune and even large moons such as Saturn's Titan. The book presents a tour of our solar system's diverse planetary atmospheres, providing a rich foundation on their structure, composition, circulation, climate, and long-term evolution. Although the climates of other worlds are extremely diverse, the chemical and physical processes that shape their dynamics are the same. As this book makes clear, the better we can understand how various planetary climates formed and evolved, the better we can understand Earth's climate history and future. Explaining current knowledge, physical and chemical mechanisms, and unanswered questions, the book brings the reader to the cutting edge of this field.Less
This clear and concise introduction to planetary climates explains the global physical and chemical processes that determine climate on any planet or major planetary satellite—from Mercury to Neptune and even large moons such as Saturn's Titan. The book presents a tour of our solar system's diverse planetary atmospheres, providing a rich foundation on their structure, composition, circulation, climate, and long-term evolution. Although the climates of other worlds are extremely diverse, the chemical and physical processes that shape their dynamics are the same. As this book makes clear, the better we can understand how various planetary climates formed and evolved, the better we can understand Earth's climate history and future. Explaining current knowledge, physical and chemical mechanisms, and unanswered questions, the book brings the reader to the cutting edge of this field.
Andrew P. Ingersoll
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691145044
- eISBN:
- 9781400848232
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691145044.003.0001
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Climate
This book examines the fundamental physical processes that control planetary climates, from convection and radiation to escape of atmospheres, evaporation, condensation, atmospheric chemistry, and ...
More
This book examines the fundamental physical processes that control planetary climates, from convection and radiation to escape of atmospheres, evaporation, condensation, atmospheric chemistry, and the dynamics of rotating fluids. It looks at the climates of the planets in order of distance from the Sun, starting with Venus and ending with planets around other stars. The greenhouse effect and climate evolution are discussed, along with basic physical processes such as convection, radiation, Hadley cells, and the accompanying winds. It also considers the “faint young Sun paradox,” illustrated by Mars, and the effect of planetary rotation on climate, the influence of sunlight and rotation on weather patterns, and Neptune's extraordinary strong winds.Less
This book examines the fundamental physical processes that control planetary climates, from convection and radiation to escape of atmospheres, evaporation, condensation, atmospheric chemistry, and the dynamics of rotating fluids. It looks at the climates of the planets in order of distance from the Sun, starting with Venus and ending with planets around other stars. The greenhouse effect and climate evolution are discussed, along with basic physical processes such as convection, radiation, Hadley cells, and the accompanying winds. It also considers the “faint young Sun paradox,” illustrated by Mars, and the effect of planetary rotation on climate, the influence of sunlight and rotation on weather patterns, and Neptune's extraordinary strong winds.
Andrew P. Ingersoll
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691145044
- eISBN:
- 9781400848232
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691145044.003.0011
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Climate
This concluding chapter discusses some of the lessons that can be learned from studying the planets and planetary climates. It first considers the general principles that turned out to be right; for ...
More
This concluding chapter discusses some of the lessons that can be learned from studying the planets and planetary climates. It first considers the general principles that turned out to be right; for example, size and distance from the Sun matter. The larger objects are able to hold on to their atmospheres better than the small objects. The outer solar system is hydrogen rich and the inner solar system is oxygen rich; as one moves away from the Sun different substances take on different roles. There are also assumptions that proved inaccurate; such was the case for Venus, Mars, and the moons of the giant planets. The chapter also asks whether the study of planetary climates provides lessons for Earth, whether the study of planets has informed us about the likelihood of extraterrestrial life, and whether it has made the development of extraterrestrial life seem more likely.Less
This concluding chapter discusses some of the lessons that can be learned from studying the planets and planetary climates. It first considers the general principles that turned out to be right; for example, size and distance from the Sun matter. The larger objects are able to hold on to their atmospheres better than the small objects. The outer solar system is hydrogen rich and the inner solar system is oxygen rich; as one moves away from the Sun different substances take on different roles. There are also assumptions that proved inaccurate; such was the case for Venus, Mars, and the moons of the giant planets. The chapter also asks whether the study of planetary climates provides lessons for Earth, whether the study of planets has informed us about the likelihood of extraterrestrial life, and whether it has made the development of extraterrestrial life seem more likely.
