Exoplanet Atmospheres

This book fills an important gap between astronomy and planetary science. I am quite sure it will become the standard text for any course covering exoplanet atmospheres. -- Mark Marley, NASA Ames Research Center Exoplanet Atmospheres is a major scholarly contribution to an exciting, scientifically important, and rapidly expanding area of research in astrophysics, written by one of its intellectual leaders. Seager pulls together a comprehensive and meticulously organized set of scientific results and techniques. This book will be a bible for students and professionals interested in exoplanet atmospheres. -- Edwin L. Turner, Princeton University

Describes the basic physical processes - including radiative transfer, molecular absorption, and chemical processes - common to the various planetary atmospheres, as well as the transit, eclipse, and thermal phase variation observations that are unique to exoplanets.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 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 * Illustrates concepts using examples grounded in real data * Provides a step-by-step guide to understanding the structure and emergent spectrum of a planetary atmosphere * Includes exercises for students