HR: 0830h
AN: P51D-0467    [PDF]
TI: General Circulation of the Transiting Exoplanet, HD209458b
AU: * Cooper, C S
EM: curtis@lpl.arizona.edu
AF: University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Lab, 1629 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721 United States
AU: Showman, A P
EM: showman@lpl.arizona.edu
AF: University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Lab, 1629 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721 United States
AB: Showman and Guillot 2002 (A\&A, 385, 166S) presented preliminary numerical simulations of the meteorology of HD209458b's atmosphere in the radiative region using the EPIC model of Dowling et al.~1998 (Icarus 132, 221). Their simulations reveal that the intense radiation of the star sustains a steady temperature difference between the day and night sides of the planet. In steady state, the models predict strong eastward equatorial jets. The magnitude of the day-night temperature difference depends on the radiative transfer of the upper atmosphere, the physics of the deep atmosphere at the interface with the planet's fully convective interior, and the effects of winds. We will present improved, higher resolution three-dimensional models of the general circulation of HD209458b. Day-night temperature variations and winds are potentially observable both in the infrared light curve of the planet, if it can be measured, and in the planetary albedo, which is likely to be variable across the planet's surface due to variations in upper atmospheric chemistry and cloud formation.
DE: 1620 Climate dynamics (3309)
DE: 3319 General circulation
DE: 3367 Theoretical modeling
DE: 6207 Comparative planetology
DE: 6220 Jupiter
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting