Blue Dots

Key science questions

Here are the key science questions that have been identified in relation to the Planetary Atmospheres and Surfaces theme:

  1. What are the physical characteristics of the atmospheres (T, P, haze, clouds, winds) ? Spectra, polarization, spectral models
  2. What is the nature and composition of the surface: rocky, liquid, icy ? Spectra, polarization, spectral models
  3. What is the time (and seasonal) variability of those features ? Spectra, polarization, spectral models
  4. What is the internal structure of those planets? Magnetosphere, planetary models
  5. What are the signatures for life ? Input from the biology community

The following is the information needed to address those questions:

  • Bulk planetary composition, internal structure:
    • Radius + mass -> density
    • Atmospheric composition -> (distinguish Neptune-like planet from terrestrial one, any trace of volcanic gases? Etc.)
  • Molecular composition of the atmosphere:
    • Most abundant/with strongest signature molecules could be found at low/medium spectral resolution, both VIS and IR.
    • Less abundant/weaker signature/chemical gradients/temporal variations NEED higher spectral resolution (> 100), very good S/N, short integration time (few hours/days).
  • Vertical Thermal structure:
    • IR, NEED higher spectral resolution (> 100), very good S/N, short integration time (few hours).
  • Dynamics
    • IR, NEED Very short integration times + repeated observations to detect temporal variability.
  • Clouds/aerosols
    • All wavelengths
    • Easier to identify in VIS with the contribution of polarization
    • Very short integration times + repeated observations to detect temporal variability
  • Albedo/Surface
    • VIS
    • Polarization can make a crucial contribution
  • Magnetic field, upper atmosphere
    • UV, ionized species, very high Res.
    • R, H3+ very high Res.
  • Biosignatures
    • As 2b, need to detect chemical gradients, temporal variations.

Wednesday 21 May 2008 by Vincent Coudé du Foresto