Origin and Evolution of Planetary Atmospheres - Implications for Habitability

Based on the author's own work and results obtained by international teams he coordinated, this SpringerBrief offers a concise discussion of the origin and early evolution of atmospheres of terrestrial planets during the active phase of their host stars, as well as of the environmental conditions which are necessary in order for planets like the Earth to obtain N_2-rich atmospheres. Possible thermal and non-thermal atmospheric escape processes are discussed in a comparative way between the planets in the Solar System and exoplanets. Lastly, a hypothesis for how to test and study the discussed atmosphere evolution theories using future UV transit observations of terrestrial exoplanets within the orbits of dwarf stars is presented.

List of contents

1 Protoatmospheres.- 2 Evolution of the Solar/Stellar Radiation and Plasma Environment.- 3 Escape of Planetary Atmospheres.- 4 Observational Tests of Atmosphere Evolution Hypotheses.- 5 Conclusion. Index.

About the author

Helmut Lammer is an internationally recognised specialist in planetary atmosphere formation and planetary habitability.

Summary

Based on the author’s own work and results obtained by international teams he coordinated, this SpringerBrief offers a concise discussion of the origin and early evolution of atmospheres of terrestrial planets during the active phase of their host stars, as well as of the environmental conditions which are necessary in order for planets like the Earth to obtain N_2-rich atmospheres. Possible thermal and non-thermal atmospheric escape processes are discussed in a comparative way between the planets in the Solar System and exoplanets. Lastly, a hypothesis for how to test and study the discussed atmosphere evolution theories using future UV transit observations of terrestrial exoplanets within the orbits of dwarf stars is presented.

Product details

• Authors: Helmut Lammer
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 28.06.2012
• EAN: 9783642320866
• ISBN: 978-3-642-32086-6
• No. of pages: 98
• Weight: 200 g
• Illustrations: XVI, 98 p. 37 illus., 23 illus. in color.
• Series: SpringerBriefs in Astronomy; SpringerBriefs in Astronomy
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Astronomy; C, Sonnensystem: Sonne und Planeten, Biologie, Biowissenschaften, Astronomie, Raum und Zeit, Meteorologie und Klimatologie (Klimaforschung), Astrophysics, Physics and Astronomy, Earth Sciences, Astrophysics and Astroparticles, Solar system: the Sun & planets, Planetology, Planetary Science, Earth System Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Astrobiology, UFOs & extraterrestrial beings, Solar system: the Sun and planets