Atmospheric Electrification in Dusty, Reactive Gases in the Solar System and Beyond

DOI: 
10.1007/s10712-016-9361-7
Publication date: 
01/07/2016
Main author: 
Helling, Christiane
IAA authors: 
Gordillo-Vazquez, Francisco J.
Authors: 
Helling, Christiane;Harrison, R. Giles;Honary, Farideh;Diver, Declan A.;Aplin, Karen;Dobbs-Dixon, Ian;Ebert, Ute;Inutsuka, Shu-ichiro;Gordillo-Vazquez, Francisco J.;Littlefair, Stuart
Journal: 
Surveys in Geophysics
Publication type: 
Article
Pages: 
705-756
Abstract: 
Detailed observations of the solar system planets reveal a wide variety of local atmospheric conditions. Astronomical observations have revealed a variety of extrasolar planets none of which resembles any of the solar system planets in full. Instead, the most massive amongst the extrasolar planets, the gas giants, appear very similar to the class of (young) brown dwarfs which are amongst the oldest objects in the Universe. Despite this diversity, solar system planets, extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs have broadly similar global temperatures between 300 and 2500 K. In consequence, clouds of different chemical species form in their atmospheres. While the details of these clouds differ, the fundamental physical processes are the same. Further to this, all these objects were observed to produce radio and X-ray emissions. While both kinds of radiation are well studied on Earth and to a lesser extent on the solar system planets, the occurrence of emissions that potentially originate from accelerated electrons on brown dwarfs, extrasolar planets and protoplanetary disks is not well understood yet. This paper offers an interdisciplinary view on electrification processes and their feedback on their hosting environment in meteorology, volcanology, planetology and research on extrasolar planets and planet formation.
Database: 
ADS
SCOPUS
WOK
URL: 
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/#abs/2016SGeo...37..705H/abstract
ADS Bibcode: 
2016SGeo...37..705H
Keywords: 
Dust charging;Discharging;Solar system;Extrasolar planets;Moon;Asteroids;Electrification processes;Electrical phenomena;Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics;High Energy Physics - Experiment;Physics - Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics;Physics - Geophysics;Physics - Plasma Physics