After the detection of thousands of exoplanets, the field has moved from the era of discovery to the era of characterisation. Remote observations now provide constraints on radii, masses, and atmospheric compositions, offering crucial insights into the physical and chemical properties of these worlds. Yet, without techniques long developed in the geosciences, it is impossible to fully interpret such data.
This short course will begin with an introduction to exoplanet observations, then progress through planetary structure, composition, mineralogy, cloud formation, atmospheric chemistry, and dynamics. It will highlight how methods from climate science, geophysics, geochemistry, and experimental petrology can be applied to exoplanet research, including a hands-on session on 4D climate data and mineralogical phase diagrams.
The aim is to provide participants with the physical understanding and computational tools needed to characterise exoplanets. The course is designed for early-career scientists from diverse backgrounds.