Contents --- Planetary Science

• Introduction
• Determining Planet Properties
  • Distances
  • Masses
  • Sizes and Volumes
  • Densities and Compositions
  • Review Questions
• Atmospheres
  • Escape of Atmosphere
    • Escape Velocity
    • Temperature
    • Does Gravity Win or Temperature?
    • Atmosphere Escape via Non-Thermal Processes
  • Gas Behavior
    • Pressure
    • Ideal Gas Law
  • Hydrostatic Equilibrium
  • Surface Temperature
    • Greenhouse Effect
  • Atmosphere Structure
  • Energy Transport
  • Clouds + Air Circulation
    • Mountains
    • Ocean Currents
  • Weather vs. Climate
    • Solar Brightening
    • Reflectivity (Albedo) Changes
    • Greenhouse Gas Abundance Changes
    • Axis Tilt and Orbit Changes
  • Appearance and Colors of the Atmospheres
  • Review Questions
• Magnetic Fields
  • Aurorae
  • Magnetic Dynamo Theory Ingredients for a magnetic field.
    • Examples
  • Review Questions
• Planet Interiors
  • Using details in planet spin
  • Seismology
  • Putting the pieces together
  • Review Questions
• Planet Surfaces
  • Impact Cratering
  • Volcanism
  • Erosion
  • Tectonics
  • Plate Tectonics
    • Plate Tectonics Theory Evidence
    • Plate Tectonics Process
  • Conclusions
  • Review Questions
• Earth-Venus-Mars A comparison of Earth and its two closest neighbors
  • Venus
    1. Runaway Greenhouse
    2. Ultraviolet Dissociation of Water
    3. Hydrogen/Deuterium Ratio
  • Mars
    1. Liquid water
    2. Biosignatures of ancient life
    3. Atmosphere Escape
    4. Ice on Mars
  • Earth
    1. Free Oxygen
    2. Liquid Water
    3. Life's Role in the Carbon Cycle
    4. Plate Tectonics Role in the Carbon Cycle
    5. Human Role in the Carbon Cycle
    • Answers to Global Warming Skeptics
    • What Can You Do?
    6. Cold Trap
    7. Beautiful Earth
  • Review Questions
• Moons and Rings
  • The Earth's Moon
    • Craters
    • Interior and Composition
    • Formation
  • Jupiter's Large Moons
    • Io
    • Europa
    • Ganymede and Callisto
  • Titan
  • Enceladus
  • Triton
  • Rings
    • Saturn's rings
    • The Rings of Uranus and Neptune
  • Review Questions

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