Comparative Climatology of Terrestrial Planets

摘要: The early development of life, a fundamental question for humankind, requires the presence suitable planetary climate. Our understanding how habitable planets come to be begins with worlds closest home. Venus, Earth, and Mars differ only modestly in their mass distance from Sun, yet current climates could scarcely more divergent. Only Earth has abundant liquid water, Venus runaway greenhouse, evidence life-supporting conditions on points bygone era. In addition, an Earth-like hydrologic cycle been revealed surprising place: Saturn's cloud-covered satellite Titan hydrocarbon rain, lakes, river networks. Deducing initial these diverse unravelling why they diverged is challenge at forefront science. Through contributions than sixty leading experts field, Comparative Climatology Terrestrial Planets sets forth foundations this emerging new science brings reader our atmospheric formation climate evolution. Particular emphasis given surface-atmosphere interactions, evolving stellar flux, mantle processes, photochemistry, interactions interplanetary environment, all which influence climatology terrestrial planets. From cornerstone, both professionals most especially students are brought threshold, enabling next generation advances own solar system beyond.