8: Planetary Atmospheres

Major Theme: The Earth as a basis of comparison for understanding the terrestrial planets.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the processes that cause primary and secondary atmospheres to be formed, retained, and lost.
  • Compare the strength of the greenhouse effect and differences in the atmospheres of Earth, Venus, Mars
  • Describe the layers of the atmospheres on Earth, Venus, and Mars, and explain how Earth’s atmosphere has been reshaped by the presence of life.
  • Compare the atmosphere of Venus and Mars with the atmosphere of Earth.
  • Describe how comparative planetology contributes to a better understanding of the changes in Earth’s climate.
  • Identify the processes that cause primary and secondary atmospheres to be formed, retained, and lost.
  • Compare the strength of the greenhouse effect and differences in the atmospheres of Earth, Venus, Mars
  • Describe the layers of the atmospheres on Earth, Venus, and Mars, and explain how Earth’s atmosphere has been reshaped by the presence of life.
  • Compare the atmosphere of Venus and Mars with the atmosphere of Earth.
  • Describe how comparative planetology contributes to a better understanding of the changes in Earth’s climate.

Outline

Atmospheres change over time.

  • Formation and loss of primary atmosphere
  • Formation of the secondary atmosphere

Secondary atmospheres evolve

  • The effect of planetary mass on a planet’s atmosphere
  • The atmosphere greenhouse effect
  • Thermal energy transfer into the atmosphere
  • Similarities and differences among the terrestrial planets

Earth’s atmosphere has detailed structure

  • Life and the composition of Earth’s atmosphere: Nitrogen, Oxygen, Ozone, CO2, Water Vapor
  • The layers of Earth’s atmosphere
  • Earth’s magnetosphere
  • Wind and water

The atmospheres of Venus and Mars differ from Earth’s

  • Venus and Mars
  • Mercury and the Moon

Greenhouse gases affect global climates.

The giant planets are large, cold, and massive.

  • Characteristics of the giant planets.
  • Composition of the giant planets
  • Days and seasons on the giant planets

The giant planets have clouds and weather.

  • The structure below the cloud tops.
  • Winds and weather: Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune.

The interiors of the giant planets are hot and dense.

  • The cores of Jupiter and Saturn
  • The cores of Uranus and Neptune

The giant planets are magnetic powerhouses

  • The size and shape of the magnetosphere
  • Radiation belts and auroras of the giant planets

The planets of our solar system might not be typical

  • Different types of “Jupiters”
  • Super-Earths to Mini-Neptunes

Activities:

Extra Stuff: