Description
As the search for Earth-like exoplanets gathers pace, in order to understand them, we need comprehensive theories for how planetary atmospheres form and evolve. Written by two well-known planetary scientists, this text explains the physical and chemical principles of atmospheric evolution and planetary atmospheres, in the context of how atmospheric composition and climate determine a planet's habitability. The authors survey our current understanding of the atmospheric evolution and climate on Earth, on other rocky planets within our Solar System, and on planets far beyond. Incorporating a rigorous mathematical treatment, they cover the concepts and equations governing a range of topics, including atmospheric chemistry, thermodynamics, radiative transfer, and atmospheric dynamics, and provide an integrated view of planetary atmospheres and their evolution. This interdisciplinary text is an invaluable one-stop resource for graduate-level students and researchers working across the fields of atmospheric science, geochemistry, planetary science, astrobiology, and astronomy.
Table of Contents
Preface; Part I. Principles of Planetary Atmospheres: 1. The structure of planetary atmospheres; 2. Energy and radiation in planetary atmospheres; 3. Essentials of chemistry of planetary atmospheres; 4. Motions in planetary atmospheres; 5. Escape of atmospheres to space; Part II. Evolution of the Earth's Atmosphere: 6. Formation of Earth's atmosphere and oceans; 7. Volcanic outgassing and mantle redox evolution; 8. Atmospheric and global redox balance; 9. The prebiotic and early postbiotic atmosphere; 10. The rise of oxygen and ozone in Earth's atmosphere; 11. Long-term climate evolution; Part III. Atmospheres and Climates on Other Worlds: 12. Mars; 13. Evolution of Venus' atmosphere; 14. Giant planets and their satellites; 15. Exoplanets: habitability and characterization; Bibliography; Appendix A. One-dimensional climate model; Appendix B. Photochemical models; Appendix C. Atomic states and term symbols; Index.
