<p>The presentation linked to seems to primarily  discuss General Circulation Models, solutions to the equations of fluid dynamics which predict the behavior of a planet's atmosphere, a component of more complete Global Climate Models (confusingly, both are GCMs).</p>

<p>Spectral data on exoplanets is extremely limited to date and poorly constrains the composition, but a lot can be inferred from a planet's orbit and eccentricity (how far from circular the orbit is). At the simplest level, planet temperature depends on how much light it receives from its parent star, and this will vary as a planet goes around a non-circular orbit. Starting from there and making reasonable assumptions about the composition of the planet (usually starting with a solar system analogy) you can test out a GCM model in the various extreme cases we observe (hot Jupiters etc.), to be subjected to future observational constraints. </p>

<p>One exciting new development is looking at a planet's phase curve (the observed brightness of the planet as it orbits its parent star) and using that to infer properties of the atmosphere. One team recently found that Kepler 7b's phase curve  may best be explained by the presence of clouds: </p>

<p>Demory, et al. 2013. “Inference of Inhomogeneous Clouds in an Exoplanet Atmosphere.” arXiv:1309.7894 [astro-Ph] (September 30). <a href="http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.7894" rel="nofollow">http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.7894</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-27T13:13:52.557Z
Great answer! Yes the "General Circulation Model" explanation definitely clears up some things. I will hold off on accepting for just a little while to encourage others to answer, but great work!
called2voyage
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-27T04:34:07.660Z
2014-11-06T14:08:40.647Z
2014-11-06T14:08:40.647Z
E. Douglas
<p><a href="http://www.astro.ex.ac.uk/exoclimes/2010/talks/Forget_exoclimes10.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">These notes from an exoplanet talk</a> discuss modeling the climate of exoplanets. How would we do that with our current technology? Would data be primarily gathered by spectrum analysis?</p>

<p><img src="https://www.drroyspencer.com/wp-content/uploads/climate-model-2.jpg" alt="Climate model"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-06T14:22:58.850Z
Judging from your accepted answer: Are you only interested in terrestial planets, or also Exo-Jupiters / Exo-Nepunes?
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-15T17:33:48.710Z
@AtmosphericPrisonEscape That's something I haven't considered. Feel free to answer to that!
called2voyage
<exoplanet><climate>
Climate modeling of exoplanets
called2voyage
# Climate modeling of exoplanets

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-11-26)

[These notes from an exoplanet talk](http://www.astro.ex.ac.uk/exoclimes/2010/talks/Forget_exoclimes10.pdf) discuss modeling the climate of exoplanets. How would we do that with our current technology? Would data be primarily gathered by spectrum analysis?

![Climate model](https://www.drroyspencer.com/wp-content/uploads/climate-model-2.jpg)

**Tags:** exoplanet, climate

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Judging from your accepted answer: Are you only interested in terrestial planets, or also Exo-Jupiters / Exo-Nepunes?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 That's something I haven't considered. Feel free to answer to that!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-11-27. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

The presentation linked to seems to primarily discuss General Circulation Models, solutions to the equations of fluid dynamics which predict the behavior of a planet's atmosphere, a component of more complete Global Climate Models (confusingly, both are GCMs).

Spectral data on exoplanets is extremely limited to date and poorly constrains the composition, but a lot can be inferred from a planet's orbit and eccentricity (how far from circular the orbit is). At the simplest level, planet temperature depends on how much light it receives from its parent star, and this will vary as a planet goes around a non-circular orbit. Starting from there and making reasonable assumptions about the composition of the planet (usually starting with a solar system analogy) you can test out a GCM model in the various extreme cases we observe (hot Jupiters etc.), to be subjected to future observational constraints.

One exciting new development is looking at a planet's phase curve (the observed brightness of the planet as it orbits its parent star) and using that to infer properties of the atmosphere. One team recently found that Kepler 7b's phase curve may best be explained by the presence of clouds:

Demory, et al. 2013. “Inference of Inhomogeneous Clouds in an Exoplanet Atmosphere.” arXiv:1309.7894 [astro-Ph] (September 30). <http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.7894>.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Great answer! Yes the "General Circulation Model" explanation definitely clears up some things. I will hold off on accepting for just a little while to encourage others to answer, but great work!  

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