Research Interests

Our group is interested in exploring the planetary atmospheres of giant planets and terrestrial planets/satellites by combining observations, theories, and numerical models. Recently, we are mainly working on two planetary missions: Cassini and Juno. Cassini is a spacecraft exploring the system of Saturn (i.e., Saturn, its satellites, and its rings). As one of the most ambitious missions ever launched into space, Cassini is a joint endeavor of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency. Juno is the first polar-orbiting spacecraft to Jupiter, which is improving our understanding of the formation, evolution, and deep structure of this giant planet. Our group is processing and analyzing the data recorded by multiple instruments (e.g., imaging systems, visible/infrared spectrometers, and microwave radiometers) aboard the two spacecrafts (i.e., Cassini and Juno) to advance our knowledge of Jupiter and Saturn. We are also very interested in the atmospheric systems of terrestrial bodies (e.g., Earth, Mars, Venus, Titan, and Enceladus). Our long-term scientific plan is to develop a new research field of comparative planetary atmospheres, in which we will emphasize the comparative studies between Earth and other planets/satellites. Such comparative studies will provide us a unique perspective to understand the atmospheric systems and possible climate changes on planets and satellites.

Courses

1. GEOL 3380: Physical Meteorology (graduate level)

2. PHYS 7397: Introductory Planetary Science (graduate level)

3. PHYS 1305: Introductory Astronomy - Solar System (undergraduate level)