Atmospheres

Earth’s atmosphere is key to the survival of living things. The air we breathe is a mixture of different elements and molecules. Our water supply is generated by a cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Climate and weather patterns influence where and how we live. Atmospheres are complex systems of thermodynamics and chemistry, powered by radiation from a star. To find life in the galaxy, we must start by looking at atmospheres — they’re the only features we can see with our telescopes. Exoplanetary atmospheres are like nothing we’ve seen before; some have temperatures that reach thousands of degrees, while others have more water vapor than there is water in all of Earth’s oceans. SEEC scientists are using computer simulations and models to better understand the dynamics of atmospheres outside our solar system.