Planetary atmospheres

Abstract

During the period from 1979 to 1982, Pioneer and Voyager missions to Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn combined with ongoing analysis and data collection from the Viking-Mars mission have contributed greatly to an understanding of planetary atmospheres. Research concerning the atmosphere of Venus is discussed, taking into account the atmospheric composition, the isotopic ratios of noble gases, data concerning temperature and pressure, information regarding various atmospheric layers, atmospheric density data, and models regarding the dynamical properties of Venus' atmosphere. Information concerning the atmosphere of Mars is also examined. Isotopic ratios of carbon and oxygen are considered along with altitude profiles, diurnal heating and cooling, and thermal tides and their relationship to dust storms. Attention is given to the temperature structure of the Jovian atmosphere, the morphology of Jovian cloud features, features in the Saturnian atmosphere, information with respect to the atmosphere of Titan, the rotation rates of Uranus, masses and densities of Uranus and Neptune, and the identification of Pluto as a small icy body.