Giant exoplanets > Ian Dobbs-Dixon
3D atmospheric dynamics
Ian Dobbs-Dixon
University of Washington, Seattle, USA
Abstract: Close-in gas giant planets are now familiar members of the growing family of extra-solar planets. While their short period orbits and proclivity for transiting has made them the target of numerous observational campaigns and our knowledge of their structure and composition has increased dramatically, fundamental questions remain. I will present 3D radiative hydrodynamical simulations of atmospheric flows on a wide variety of such objects, ranging from the well-known HD209458b to the more exotic rapidly rotating or highly eccentric objects. Such objects exhibit a diverse range of unusual behaviors including supersonic winds, shocks and instabilities, and time dependent behavior.

Additional materials: PDF of slides

ExoClimes 2010, Exeter, Wednesday 8th Sep 2010