Planetary and exoplanetary atmospheres

Duration

30h Th, 15h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Denis Grodent

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course SPAT0055 was based on a detailed study of the atmosphere of the Earth. It made it possible to introduce several basic concepts of atmospheric physics. The present course moves in the same way and extends the scope of these laws of physics to the atmosphere of other planets of the solar system and to exoplanets. Differences in planetary atmospheres are directly owing to their formation and thus to the formation of the solar (stellar) system. The case of exoplanets allows us to explore more exotic atmospheres.




I. Introduction - Recaps
- The new solar system
- Definitions
- Titius-Bode's Law
- Planets of the solar system
- Planetary orbits and rotations
- Coordinate systems
- Planetary configurations
- Kepler's Law
- The N-body problem (N=1,2,3)
- Tides
- Roche's limit
- N >3 perturbation of orbits and resonance
- Energy sources of planets
 
II. Formation and evolution of the solar system
- Review of theories
- Standard model
- Evolutionary processes
- Escape and erosion
- Impacts
- Origin of water on Earth
- Surface Processes
 
III. Planetary atmospheres
- Composition
- Primitive solar nebula
- Primitive atmospheres (giant planets)
- Secondary atmosphere (Earth)
- Evolution of planetary atmospheres
 
IV. Extrasolar planets
- Detection of exoplanets and their atmosphere
- Radial Velocity method, Doppler effect
- Astrometric method
- Micro-lense and Timing methods
- Transit method
- Futur observatories
- Characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, students should be able to explain how the formation of the solar system influenced the atmospheric structure and composition of the different planets. They should be able to show that these planetary atmospheres evolved in different ways and that the emergence of life on Earth has had an dramatic effect on its atmosphere. The field of exoplanetary atmospheres is just starting. The students will become familiar with current detection methods and understand their limitations for deriving atmospheric information.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

This course is a sequel to course SPAT0055 (or SPAT0048)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to-face, power point presentations.

Recommended or required readings

PDF versions of the powepoint presentations may be downloaded from the MyULg website.
 
Reference books/papers:
« An Introduction to Planetary Atmospheres » A. Sanchez-Lavega, CRC Press, 2011
« Atmosphères planétaires Origine et évolution » Th. Encrenaz, Belin, 2000
« The Exoplanet handbook » M. Perryman, Cambridge, 2011
« Exoplanet Atmospheres » Seager & Deming, Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 2010. 48:631-672
 

Assessment methods and criteria

A personal work (corresponding to 15 h of PW) is presented by each student at the end of the year. The latter consists in the analysis and (public) presentation of a scientific paper directly related to the course. It should be chosen in agreement with the instructors. The presentation, in French or English is evaluated. The instructor also asks a few questions about the presentation and a couple of general questions about the course.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

It is highly recommended to attend the classes.

Contacts

Prof Denis Grodent d.grodent@uliege.be
Laboratory for Planeatary and Atmospheric Physics
Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR) Institute
Université de Liège Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique Quartier AGORA (B5c) Allée du Six Août, 19C  B-4000 Liège, Belgium
phone: +32 4 366 9773 http://www.lpap.uliege.be

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

The content of the few courses that could not be given face-to-face is included in a series of presentations in pdf format. These files are available on eCampus. Students are expected to read these presentations and have the possibility to send any questions they may have by e-mail.

Assessment subjects

The material corresponds to the content of the files available on eCampus.
As explained below, the examination focuses on the analysis of a scientific article chosen from a list by the students. Account will be taken of the fact that some of the subject matter has only been submitted as reading material.
 

Assessment methods

The oral exam consists of the presentation of the article analysed in French or in English.
Students have about 15 minutes to present the content of the article, what they have retained from it, and to try to make the link with the material presented in the course (or read in the pdf documents).
A few questions will be asked about the article and the course material.
Evaluation will be based on mastery of the material presented, evidence of links to the course, quality and care of presentation, and relevance of the answers to the questions.

Contacts

Prof. Denis Grodent d.grodent@uliege.be

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

No change from the June session

Assessment methods

Remote oral examination. Use of Lifesize or Skype platforms (backup solution).
The assessment method is similar to that of the June session.

Contacts

d.grodent@uliege.be

Items online