Over the past twenty years, astronomers have
identified hundreds of extrasolar planets - planets
orbiting stars other than the sun. Recent research in
this burgeoning field has made it possible to observe
and measure the atmospheres of these exoplanets. This is
the first textbook to describe the basic physical
processes - including radiative transfer, molecular
absorption, and chemical processes - common to all
planetary atmospheres, as well as the transit, eclipse,
and thermal phase variation observations that are unique
to exoplanets. In each chapter, Sara Seager offers a
conceptual introduction, examples that combine the
relevant physics equations with real data, and
exercises. Topics of this title range from foundational
knowledge, such as the origin of atmospheric composition
and planetary spectra, to more advanced concepts, such
as solutions to the radiative transfer equation,
polarization, and molecular and condensate opacities.
Since planets vary widely in their atmospheric
properties, Seager emphasizes the major physical
processes that govern all planetary atmospheres.Moving
from first principles to cutting-edge research,
''Exoplanet Atmospheres'' is an ideal resource for
students and researchers in astronomy and earth
sciences, one that will help prepare them for the next
generation of planetary science. The first textbook to
describe exoplanet atmospheres, this title illustrates
concepts using examples grounded in real data. It
provides a step-by-step guide to understanding the
structure and emergent spectrum of a planetary
atmosphere. It includes exercises for students. |
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