Theory of Planetary Atmospheres : an Introduction to Their Physics and Chemistry
Our subject is, of course, nothing more than applied physics and chemistry. But in addition to those basic sciences the student of planetary atmospheres needs an overview of atmospheric structure and physical processes as presently understood. This book is intended to help fill that need for both graduate students and research scientists. Although the approach is mainly theoretical, very little basic physics is developed here. Material that is standard fare in third- and fourth-year physics courses is simply absorbed where needed
eBook, English, 2014
2nd ed
Elsevier Science, 2014
1 online resource (497 pages).
9780080963136, 0080963137
1058533525
Front Cover; Theory of Planetary Atmospheres: An Introduction to Their Physics and Chemistry; Copyright Page; CONTENTS; Preface to the Second Edition; Preface to the First Edition; Chapter 1. Vertical Structure of an Atmosphere; 1.1 Hydrostatic Equilibrium; 1.2 Radiative Equilibrium; 1.3 Convection in the Troposphere; 1.4 Latitudinal Variations of the Tropopause and Departures from Grayness; 1.5 The Stratosphere: Absorption of Direct Solar Radiation; 1.6 The Mesopause: Vibrational Relaxation of CO2; 1.7 Ionization, Dissociation, and Heat Transfer in the Thermosphere. 1.8 Atmospheric Structure of Venus, Mars, and Mercury1.9 Atmospheric Structure in the Outer Solar System; Bibliographical Notes; Problems; Chapter 2. Hydrodynamics of Atmospheres; 2.1 Basic Equations; 2.2 Horizontal Circulation of the Troposphere; 2.3 Vertical Transport; 2.4 Circulation of the Venus Atmosphere; 2.5 Diurnal Winds of Mars; 2.6 Convection in the Jovian Atmosphere; 2.7 Uranus and its Seasons; Bibliographical Notes; Problems; Chapter 3. Chemistry and Dynamics of Earth's Stratosphere; 3.1 Principles of Photochemistry; 3.2 Catalytic Destruction of Ozone; 3.3 Stratospheric Motions. Bibliographical NotesProblems; Chapter 4. Planetary Astronomy; 4.1 Radiative Transfer in an Optically Thick Atmosphere; 4.2 Spectroscopy; 4.3 Photometry and Polarimetry; 4.4 Thermal Radiation; Bibliographical Notes; Problems; Chapter 5. Ionospheres; 5.1 Formation of Ionospheric Regions; 5.2 Radio Waves in an Ionized Atmosphere; 5.3 Ionospheres of Venus, Mars, and Jupiter; Bibliographical Notes; Problems; Chapter 6. Airglows, Auroras, and Aeronomy; 6.1 Airglow Photometry; 6.2 Resonant and Flourescent Scattering of Sunlight; 6.3 Day Airglows of the Planets; 6.4 Aeronomy of the Planets. Bibliographical NotesProblems; Chapter 7. Stability of Planetary Atmospheres; 7.1 Quasi-Collisionless Exospheres; 7.2 Collisions in Exospheres; 7.3 Atmospheric Escape; 7.4 Atmospheric Evolution and Climate; Bibliographical Notes; Problems; Appendix I: A Table of Physical Constants; Appendix II: Planetary Characteristics; Appendix III: A Model of Earth's Atmosphere; Appendix IV: Planetary Spacecraft Missions; Appendix V: Supplementary Reading; Appendix VI: The Planck Function; Appendix VII: Diffusion Coefficients; Appendix VIII: Ortho and Para Hydrogen. Appendix IX: Partition Functions for a Spherical ExosphereIndex; Author Index; Subject Index