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

Simon Morden wrote:

> 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).

That makes sense.

Thanks

Wesley Parish
> 
> Simon Morden