Ice giant atmospheres: recent findings

Abstract:

Planets like Uranus and Neptune – rich in volatiles and far from their parent stars – are common throughout the galaxy. Better understanding these ice giant planets requires a detailed knowledge of their atmospheric dynamics; these dynamics influence, for example, cloud formation and the composition of the observable atmosphere. Recent observations spanning a range of wavelengths have permitted new insights into the dynamics in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune on both large and small scales. I will review these recent efforts and discuss exciting future prospects. Highlights include detailed, high-resolution studies of clouds and multi-wavelength efforts to trace global circulation patterns in three dimensions.