3D atmosphere simulations of giant gas planets and mini-Neptunes

Extrasolar planets have proven to be far more diverse than the planets in the solar system. This project will study the climate of giant planets and mini-Neptunes by conducting 3D global circulation simulations.

Giant gas planets and mini-Neptuns form in the outer, most cool parts of planet forming disks but end up with different masses. How does this effect their climate? How does the climate change depending on their orbital position? How can this be observed?

This project will focus on the 3D climate simulations that self-consistently include cloud formation in chemically different environments. The aim of the project is to compare the 3D atmospheric structures of mini-Neptuns with the well-studied case of giant gas planets (e.g. HD189733b). The project will also study ionisation processes in exoplanet atmospheres that may lead to the formation of an ionosphere and the occurrence of lighting. Lightning may provide a new window into the dynamic atmospheres of extrasolar planets which so far is observed as an unresolved dot in the sky. This project is timely linked to the launch of JWST, the largest IR and near-IR space telescope in years to come.