arXiv · astro-ph/0209227
Changing Face of the Extrasolar Giant Planet, HD 209458b
Abstract
High-resolution atmospheric flow simulations of the tidally-locked extrasolar giant planet, HD 209458b, show large-scale spatio-temporal variability. This is in contrast to the simple, permanent day/night (i.e., hot/cold) picture. The planet's global circulation is characterized by a polar vortex in motion around each pole and a banded structure corresponding to ~3 broad zonal (east-west) jets. For very strong jets, the circulation-induced temperature difference between moving hot and cold regions can reach up to ~1000 K, suggesting that atmospheric variability could be observed in the planet's spectral and photometric signatures.
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James Y-K. Cho, Kristen Menou, Brad Hansen, Sara Seager. 2003-03-12. Changing Face of the Extrasolar Giant Planet, HD 209458b. https://doi.org/10.1086/375016
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