Atmospheres of the giant planets have definetely evolved from their formation out of the primordial solar nebula. The degree to which they have evolved remains to be determined, however. Because of their enormous gravity relative to the terrestrial planets, most of the original atmosphere of the planet remains in place. (The terrestrial planets lost much or all of their atmospheres because the atmosphere drifted away).
Unlike Jupiter or Saturn, which are made primarily of H and He, Uranus is made mostly of icy material, the solid form of sophisticated gases such as methane, ethane, and water. The reason for this is because the nebula itself influenced the kind of material which condenced in the vicinity of Uranus.
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Why is an Atmospheric Structure important? |
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Return to Uranus | |
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Return to atmosphere | |
Atmospheres of the giant planets have definetely evolved from their formation out of the primitive solar nebula. How much they have evolved remains to be seen, however. Because of their enormous gravity relative to the terrestrial planets, most of the original atmosphere of the planet remains in place. (The terrestrial planets lost much or all of their atmospheres because the atmosphere drifted away).
Unlike Jupiter or Saturn, which are made primarily of H and He, Uranus is made mostly of icy material, the solid form of complex molecules such as methane, ethane, and water. The reason for this is because the nebula itself influenced the kind of material which formed near Uranus.
|
Why is an Atmospheric Structure important? |
|
|
Return to Uranus | |
|
Return to atmosphere | |
The atmospheres of the giant planets have definetely since their formation. How much they have changed remains to be seen, however. Because of their enormous gravity relative to the terrestrial planets, most of the original air remains in place. (The terrestrial planets lost much or all of their atmospheres because the atmosphere drifted away).
Unlike Jupiter or Saturn, which are made primarily of hydrogen and helium molecules, Uranus is made mostly of icy material. The reason for this is because the nebula itself influenced the kind of material which formed near Uranus.
|
Why is an Atmospheric Structure important? |
|
|
Return to Uranus | |
|
Return to atmosphere | |