Module Identifier | PH28510 | ||
Module Title | THE PLANETS | ||
Academic Year | 2001/2002 | ||
Co-ordinator | Professor Shadia Habbal | ||
Semester | Semester 2 | ||
Other staff | Dr Andrew Breen | ||
Pre-Requisite | Year 1 Core Modules | ||
Course delivery | Lecture | 20 lectures | |
Seminars / Tutorials | 2 seminars/exercise classes; 2 tutorials | ||
Assessment | Course work | Example Sheets Example Sheets 11,12,14,15,16 & 18 Deadlines are detailed in the Year 2 Example Sheet Schedule distributed by the department | 30% |
Exam | 2 Hours End of semester examinations | 70% |
OUTLINE SYLLABUS FOR PART II: ORBITAL MECHANICS AND PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES - DR G VAUGHAN
(9 lectures + 1 example class)
1. Orbits: Kepler's Laws
2. Departures from Kepler's Laws - orbital parameters - ice age theory.
4. Atmospheres of inner planets: runaway greenhouse effect on Venus.
5. Isotopic ratios, Structure of the Martian atmosphere. Contrasting histories of Venus, Earth and Mars.
6-7. Composition of outer planet atmospheres. Coriolis force.
8-9. Weather patterns on the outer planets. Circulation theories and dynamical instabilities.