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Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto
Modeling extrasolar planets atmospheres

Nicolas Iro
Keele University

Abstract
Close-in exoplanets experience very strong stellar irradiation. These planets indeed orbit at semi-major axis shorter than 0.1 AU. If they are in synchronous rotation -- as they are expected since the strong tidal forces from the star quickly synchronize the planet -- the difference of temperature between the constantly exposed day side and the night side should lead to intense atmospheric dynamics. For larger semi-major axis, the differential rotation as well as the eventual eccentricity generate a time-varying incoming flux from the star for each atmospheric parcel.
In that framework, it is not strange that static models have difficulties to reproduce or explain some observational constraints. A time-dependent radiative transfer model is essential in order to understand the extrasolar planets atmospheric structure. Moreover, coupled radiative transfer method and hydrodynamical code are required to fully understand and analyze these exoplanets under strong stellar irradiation.
I will discuss the problems of time-dependency in exoplanets atmosphere and present a model where some of the issues are taken into account.

25 July 2013, 13:30

Centro de Astrofísica
Rua das Estrelas
4150-762 Porto

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) is a new but long anticipated research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold but feasible vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). IA resulted from the merging the two most prominent research units in the field in Portugal: the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Lisbon (CAAUL). It currently hosts more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the area of Space Sciences. This is the scientific area with the highest relative impact factor (1.65 times above the international average) and the field with the highest average number of citations per article for Portugal.

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