Planetary HabitabilityUnderstanding planetary
habitability is one of the major challenges of the current scientific era, and
is a vast inter-disciplinary undertaking that combines planetary science,
climate science, and stellar astrophysics. This book provides an overview of
the many processes that influence the energy balance of planetary surface
environments and control the sustainability of temperate conditions. These
factors include such aspects as the influence of stars, the atmospheres and
interiors or planets, and the orbital dynamics of planetary systems. Also
described are the concepts behind the habitable zone, lessons learned from solar system data, and the vast opportunities that are provided by exoplanet
discoveries, both now and into the future.
Key
Features:
Summarises current exoplanet discoveries relevant to
habitabilityAimed at graduate students and researchers with an interest in
exoplanets and astrobiologyDescribes the primary factors that influence the habitability of
a planetEmphasises the need for in situ data in our solar systemCovers the degeneracy of geosignatures and biosignatures ISBN: 9780750321181, 0750321180
