Author:

Abstract:

As result of formation and evolution processes, exoplanets can have very different properties, e.g. giant gas planets, rocky planets, mini-neptunes and possibly carbon-rich planets. The understanding of these objects is, to a large extent, hampered by clouds obscuring their atmospheres. Clouds play a key role for the atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, as they are important opacity sources and deplete the local gas phase chemistry. The objective of this project is to understand the impact of clouds on the habitability conditions of an exoplanet, and implement detailed cloud and haze formation descriptions in exoplanet climate model simulations for (Super-)Earths. The PhD student will include a kinetic cloud formation model (nucleation, surface growth/evaporation, gravitational settling, element conservation; see Woitke & Helling 2003; Helling & Woitke 2006) into the general circulation model (GCM) code for improved analysis of existing data and as preparation for coming data from JWST, ARIEL, ELT, PLATO, and other future facilities. This 3D GCM code has recently been coupled with a chemical network (network developed by O. Venot (Paris), implemented by R. Baeyens (KU Leuven)).