Re: planetary and atmospheric rotation - origins, direction, etc

Tux Wonder-Dog wrote:
> Have there been any theses, studies, articles, etc, on this topic, the
> origin of planetary rotation and the direction of atmospheric
circulation?
> 
> How deeply tied is it to the (postulated) direction of rotation of the
> nebula of origin?  What additional causes might be postulated - eg, in
the
> cases of Venus and Uranus?
> 
> (As you might have guessed, I'm still thinking about some of the issues
in
> the snowball planets and M-stars thread. ;)
> 
> Wesley Parish

I believe that if the accretion disk goes clockwise, the planets will 
orbit thuswise too: any counterclockwise particles would have an impact 
pro****tional to 2v^2. IIRC, simulations show such bodies are weeded out 
early on.

As for rotation, in a clockwise orbiting system, the planets will have a 
tendency to go clockwise too. Massive impacts on the protoplanet can and 
will alter the rotation and axial tilt. This will happen early on during 
the accretion phase. Earlier than the Late Heavy, probably, and 
synchronous with our Moon formation (if you believe the Mars-sized 
impactor theory).

In an old system, you'll need to figure in tidal locking with the primary.

Atmospheres really ought to spin in the same direction as the planet 
beneath (he adds, with understatement).

Simon Morden
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