planetary rotational motion Archives

Coordinate systems. (a) Schematic of the coordinate systems. e𝜃 and er are the meridional (latitudinal) direction and the vertical direction (opposite to the gravitational direction), respectively. ez and es are the axial direction aligned with planetary rotation and the radial direction perpendicular to it, respectively. e𝜙 represents both the zonal direction in spherical coordinates and the azimuthal direction in cylindrical coordinates. (b) Distribution of 𝐻𝑧 in the simulation with Enceladus-like parameters: a core radius of 192 km and an ocean surface radius of 232 km. Outside the tangent cylinder, 𝐻𝑧 is kept constant. In (a) and (b), gray dashed lines indicate the tangent cylinder. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Icy Worlds, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Parameterizing Slantwise Convection In Icy Moon Oceans

by Keith CowingJune 25, 2026June 25, 2026

Convection in icy moon oceans is strongly influenced by rotation, organizing into slantwise columnar structures aligned with the planetary rotation axis. They generate significant meridional heat transport, which can affect […]

A parametric study of the tidal response. Plotted is a contoured surface of the amplitude of the imaginary part of the positive semidiurnal pressure anomaly at the Lamb resonance, over a grid of values of our free parameters σ0 and αA. The solid black isoline marks the level curve of ℑ{δps} = 880 Pa, and defines from below a region in (αA, σ0)-space where the thermotidal response is sufficient to cancel the gravitational counterpart in the Precambrian. Analogously, the dashed isoline defines the threshold (ℑ{δps} = 2275 Pa) needed in the early Mesozoic, 250 Ma. The horizontal shaded area corresponds to typical values of the radiative cooling rate as described in the main text. The other shaded area defines the region of parameter space that yields the presently observed semi-diurnal tidal bulge. The gray area on the left covers the parametric region where the resonance features a lower pressure amplitude than the present. -- physics.ao-ph

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Thermal Tides In Neutrally Stratified Atmospheres: Revisiting The Earth’s Precambrian Rotational Equilibrium

by Keith CowingSeptember 23, 2023September 23, 2023

Rotational dynamics of the Earth, over geological timescales, have profoundly affected local and global climatic evolution, probably contributing to the evolution of life.

planetary rotational motion

Parameterizing Slantwise Convection In Icy Moon Oceans

Thermal Tides In Neutrally Stratified Atmospheres: Revisiting The Earth’s Precambrian Rotational Equilibrium

Atmospheric Evolution Through Outgassing And Escape On Young Molten Rocky Exoplanets

The Exozodi Spectral Effect: Residual Habitable Zone Dust May Bias ExoEarth Characterization

The Majority Of Hot Jupiters Formed Beyond The Water Ice Line

Sulfur Photochemistry Observationally Traces Mantle Redox States Of Rocky Planets

Tracing The Source Of Carbon Oxides On The Large Moons Of Uranus