Astronomy 161 - Winter 2008

1. What sets the equilibrium temperature of the Earth (balance between rate of incoming solar energy and Earth's radiant energy)
2. Meaning of the greenhouse effect; whether the greenhouse effect is new or has been operating for a long time; human augmentation of the greenhouse effect and global warming
3. Radioactive decay and age dating; idea of a half life
4. Age of the solar system from meteorite studies; typical ages of Earth rocks
5. The process of accretion, the duration of the cratering era, and how we use cratering as an indicator of surface ages
6. How earthquakes are used to determine the structure of the Earth; P- and S- waves
7. Vertical structure of the Earth's atmosphere, and its principal layers
8. Meaning of tectonism, volcanism, continental drift, gradation, and loss of atmospheres; how these depend on the mass of a terrestrial planet.
9. Comparative planetology: similarities and differences between the terrestrial planets
10. Structure and atmospheres of the Jovian planets
11. Convection and cloud patterns on the Jovian planets
12. Hydrostatic equilibrium and the concept of models of planetary interiors for the Jovian planets
13. How we know Saturn's ring particles are made of swarms of tiny satellites
14. Pluto/Charon and Kuiper belt objects
15. Structure of comets, orbits of comets, the Oort cloud
16. Asteroids:  orbits and composition
17. Evidence for asteroid impacts on the Earth and connection with mass extinction events

Last modified: 2008 February 28