Date: Monday 22-Nov-2021
Time: 11:15-12:15
Location: ATL 1250 and via Zoom (link sent out to the PALS distribution list prior to the talk)
Speaker: Tad Komacek (University of Maryland)
Title: Clouds, storms, and variability in exoplanet atmospheres
Aerosols are ubiquitous in exoplanet atmospheres, and large-scale dynamical instabilities and thermodynamic and cloud-radiative feedbacks are expected to drive weather patterns in planetary atmospheres. This talk will discuss current theory and modeling efforts to study vertical mixing, cloud lofting and cloud-radiative feedback, time-variability, and large-scale storms in exoplanet atmospheres. Specifically, I will describe four main topics. First, I will discuss a theoretical scaling for vertical mixing in the atmospheres of hot Jupiters and implications for their general circulation. Second, I will describe current modeling efforts for hot Jupiters and extensions to study patchy clouds in the ultra-hot Jupiter regime. Then, I will discuss time-variability in the atmospheres of hot Jupiters and tidally locked rocky exoplanets, and the implications of this variability for upcoming JWST observations of these planets. If time permits, I will finish by describing recent efforts to model tropical cyclones in tidally locked exoplanet atmospheres with high-resolution simulations.
For further information contact PALS coordinators Drs. Quanzhi Ye (qye@umd.edu) and Matej Malik (malik@umd.edu).
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS:Special accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be made by calling (301) 405-3001. It would be appreciated if we are notified at least one week in advance.
