= Solution
Three useful approaches are \b[self-consistent one-dimensional models, <atmospheric retrievals> and three-dimensional circulation models].
A one-dimensional <radiative-convective equilibrium model> solves energy balance and <radiative transfer>, typically with a prescribed gravity, irradiation and composition or a chemical-equilibrium/kinetic calculation. It predicts physically coupled temperature profiles and spectra economically, but averages away longitude/latitude structure and inherits <opacity>, <exoplanet cloud> and chemistry assumptions.
An <atmospheric retrieval> parametrizes temperature, gas abundances, <exoplanet clouds> and other nuisance quantities and fits them to observations through a forward radiative-transfer model. It quantifies parameter constraints and degeneracies without enforcing every theoretical relation, but limited data can leave nonunique answers and priors/model structure can dominate.
A <general circulation model> solves rotating fluid dynamics with radiative heating/cooling and, when feasible, chemistry and <exoplanet cloud> transport. It predicts winds, phase curves and horizontal contrasts, but is computationally costly and still needs approximations for unresolved turbulence, <exoplanet cloud> microphysics and chemical networks. The approaches answer different questions and can be used jointly.
Back to article page
