This bookreviews the current state of knowledge of the atmospheres of the giant gaseous planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The current theories of their formation are reviewed and their recently observed temperature, composition and cloud structures are contrasted and compared with simple thermodynamic, radiative transfer and dynamical models. The instruments and techniques that have been used to remotely measure their atmospheric properties are also reviewed, and the likely development of outer planet observations over the next two decades is outlined.

Inhalt

Formation of the giant planets.- Evolution processes in outer planet atmospheres.- Vertical structure of temperature, composition, and clouds.- Dynamical processes.- Radiative transfer processes in outer planetary atmospheres.- Sources of remotely sensed data on the giant planets.