PH28520 - PLANETARY AND ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS

Module Identifier	PH28520
Module Title	PLANETARY AND ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS
Academic Year	2002/2003
Co-ordinator	Professor Shadia R Habbal
Semester	Semester 2
Other staff	Dr Andrew R Breen, Professor Geraint Vaughan, Jaqueline Woollam, Dr Lorraine A Allen
Pre-Requisite	Core Physics Modules at Level 1
Co-Requisite	None
Mutually Exclusive	None
Course delivery	Lecture	30 Hours
	Seminars / Tutorials	4 workshops
	Practical	Incorporate dinto PH25010, PH24520 and PH25520

Learning outcomes

Understand the physical processes that underlie the evolution of the solid planets.
Explain how climate is influenced by orbital motion.
Understand the physics governing the large-scale atmospheric circulation on different worlds.
Understand the evolution of terrestrial and planet atmospheres. Explain how non-Keplarian orbital motion arises. Explain how observations enable us to probe planetary interiors.
Understand the balance of energy in the Erath-atmosphere system. Understand weather systems and prediction.
Understand the physical aspects of various environmental issues involving the atmosphere.

Brief description

This module covers the physics of planetary and satellite interiors, atmospheres and orbital dynamics. The module describes the formation of the solar system and examines the processes of planetisimal accretion. It gives an account of tidal phenomena, including ocean tides and the Roche tidal limit for planetary ring systems. A description of the physics of planetary interiors covers the process of differentiation, the self compression model of internal density and how effective potential reveals information about planetary internal structure. Heat generation and flow in planetary interiors is examined and the self-exciting dynamo theory for the generation of magnetic field is introduced. The orbital behaviour of solar-system objects is examined and phenomena such as orbital resonances discussed. The evolution and dynamics of the atmospheres of both gas-giant and terrestrial planets are addressed, with particular emphasis on the contrasting histories of Earth, Mars and Venus. An introduction is given to the physics of the Earth’s atmosphere. The basic principles of radiation, thermodynamics and fluid dynamics are applied to gain an understanding of fundamental atmospheric phenomena. Discussion will emphasize the environmental issues of climate change and ozone depletion. Applications such as remote sensing of planetary atmospheres and weather prediction are also introduced.

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
J.M. Wallace and P.V. Hobbs. Atmospheric Science, an Introductory Survey. 0127329501
J.W. Moran and M.D. Morgan. Meteorology. 0132667010
W.K. Hartmann. Moons and Planets. Wadsworth
Zeilik & Gregory. Introductory Astronomy & AstroPhysics. 4th. Saunders College Publishing
** Recommended Text
J. Kaler. Astronomy. Harper Collins