Atmospheres and Climates of Exoplanets

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Hot Jupiters and Earth-like exoplanets are among the most interesting***extrasolar planets amenable to study. Over the next 5-10 years,***observational efforts including TESS, SPiROU-NIRPS, JWST and ELTs will***dramatically improve the quantity and the quality of the data***available to characterize their properties, atmospheres and***climates. This brings new and significant modelling opportunities to***refine our understanding of these planets.******Recently, predictions from the magnetic induction mechanism have been***observationally confirmed, making it likely that ohmic dissipation and***magnetic drag are responsible for the radius inflation phenomenon in***hot Jupiters. As a principal architect of this solution, I propose to***lead an effort to refine models of magnetic induction in hot Jupiters***so that it can be used as quantitative tool to better understand the***structure and evolution of these planets as a population. I will also***pursue a program aimed at clarifying the role and magnitude of***turbulent vertical transport in hot Jupiter atmospheres. Together,***this will illuminate formation scenarios and directly impact our***understanding of atmospheric observables for this class of planets.******Finding Earth-like habitable planets around nearby stars for follow-up***characterization with JWST or ELTs is a key driver of exoplanetary***science today. My group has made important contributions regarding the***diversity of climates possible on Earth-like exoplanets, in particular***cold habitable worlds subject to global climate cycles or habitable***snowball states. I will continue to explore the rich parameter space***of habitable climate with one major goal: provide the broad context***needed to interpret future discoveries. This will be achieved through***a well-posed forward-modelling strategy: simulated observations of***model climates will be used to understand which aspects of a complex***climate system can be reliably inferred from the limited set of***observational constraints available to astronomers over the next***decade and beyond.**