Exploring Giant Planet Atmospheres with JWST

The initial aim for this PhD will be comparative planetology of the four planets, but this can be taken in multiple directions.

For example, we might focus on the use of stratospheric chemicals to trace circulation patterns on Saturn and the Ice Giants, to understand how extreme seasonal differences influence the flow of air.

Or we might compare and contrast the abundances of elements and isotopologues within each atmosphere, as a window onto the bulk composition of these worlds and the reservoirs of material accreted during their formation.

Or we could perform a systematic study of aerosol differences between the four giant planets, as a precursor for the next generation of infrared instruments flying to Jupiter (e.g., ESA's JUICE mission) and Uranus (e.g., NASA's Uranus Orbiter and Probe).

Each of these themes rely on the JWST data analysis and the development of expertise in spectral inversion and atmospheric physics.

The project can evolve with time, as we discover new results in the JWST data, and as the PhD student develops their own interests within the field of planetary atmospheres.