Outstanding Challenges of Exoplanet Atmospheric Retrievals

Barstow, Joanna K.; Heng, Kevin (2020). Outstanding Challenges of Exoplanet Atmospheric Retrievals. Space science reviews, 216(5) Springer 10.1007/s11214-020-00666-x

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Spectral retrieval has long been a powerful tool for interpreting planetary remote sensing observations. Flexible, parameterised, agnostic models are coupled with inversion algorithms in order to infer atmospheric properties directly from observations, with minimal reliance on physical assumptions. This approach, originally developed for application to Earth satellite data and subsequently observations of other Solar System planets, has been recently and successfully applied to transit, eclipse and phase curve spectra of transiting exoplanets. In this review, we present the current state-of-the-art in terms of our ability to accurately retrieve information about atmospheric chemistry, temperature, clouds and spatial variability; we discuss the limitations of this, both in the available data and modelling strategies used; and we recommend approaches for future improvement.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Review Article)

Division/Institute:

08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > Space Research and Planetary Sciences
08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute
10 Strategic Research Centers > Center for Space and Habitability (CSH)
08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > NCCR PlanetS

UniBE Contributor:

Heng, Kevin

Subjects:

500 Science
500 Science > 520 Astronomy
500 Science > 530 Physics

ISSN:

0038-6308

Publisher:

Springer

Language:

English

Submitter:

Danielle Zemp

Date Deposited:

06 Apr 2021 10:57

Last Modified:

01 Jul 2024 00:25

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s11214-020-00666-x

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/153892

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/153892

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