Researchers use MITgcm to simulate 3D cloud dynamics on WASP-80b, revealing how atmospheric feedback shapes the planet’s spectra.

Reporting by Helen Hill for MITgcm

A new study led by Nishil Mehta and colleagues offers a detailed look into the atmospheric dynamics of WASP-80b, a warm Jupiter exoplanet orbiting a nearby K-type star. Using advanced 3D simulations, the team explored how clouds form, evolve, and influence the planet’s observable spectra—providing key insights into the challenges of interpreting exoplanet atmospheres.

Under review for Astronomy & Astrophysics, the study tackles a central question in exoplanet science: how do clouds affect what we see when we observe distant worlds? For WASP-80b, a planet with temperatures around 800 K and a relatively slow orbit, the answer is complex—and highly dependent on atmospheric circulation and cloud feedback mechanisms.

To simulate these processes, the researchers employed the MIT General Circulation Model (MITgcm), a flexible and powerful tool originally developed for Earth’s climate but now widely adapted for planetary science. The team coupled MITgcm with a cloud microphysics module and radiative transfer calculations to create a self-consistent 3D model of WASP-80b’s atmosphere.

The MITgcm was central to the study’s success, enabling the team to resolve the full three-dimensional structure of WASP-80b’s atmosphere. It captured the interplay between thermal gradients, wind patterns, and cloud formation across the planet’s day and night sides. By simulating how condensates like silicates and sulfides are lofted and transported by atmospheric circulation, the model provided a dynamic view of cloud feedback processes—critical for interpreting the planet’s spectral features as seen by telescopes.

The simulations revealed that WASP-80b’s skies are far from uniformly clear. Instead, cloud formation is highly localized, with thick clouds developing on the nightside and near the terminator—the boundary between day and night. These clouds are composed primarily of silicate and sulfide condensates, which form at cooler temperatures and are lofted by vertical winds.

Importantly, the study found that cloud feedback significantly alters the planet’s thermal structure. Clouds trap heat in the lower atmosphere and reflect incoming stellar radiation, leading to temperature inversions and altered wind patterns. These changes, in turn, affect the distribution and evolution of clouds themselves—a feedback loop that must be accounted for in spectral models.

When the team generated synthetic spectra from their 3D model, they found that cloud feedback could mute or shift key absorption features, such as those from water vapor and alkali metals. This has major implications for interpreting data from space telescopes like JWST and ARIEL, which rely on spectral signatures to infer atmospheric composition.

The study also highlights the importance of planetary rotation and orbital geometry. WASP-80b’s relatively slow rotation allows for stronger day-night temperature contrasts, which drive vigorous atmospheric circulation and cloud transport. These dynamics are crucial for understanding the planet’s climate and for planning future observations.

As new space-based observatories (such as JWST and the upcoming ARIEL mission) and next-generation ground-based facilities with high-resolution capabilities (including the Extremely Large Telescope) deliver increasingly detailed views of exoplanet atmospheres, comprehensive circulation models have become essential for interpreting those observations. “High-quality data and advanced modeling now work hand in hand, and this synergy allows us to build a more complete and physically grounded picture of climates on worlds far beyond our Solar System,” said Mehta.

“This is a great example of how Earth science tools can be repurposed for planetary exploration,” said Mehta. “The skies of WASP-80b may be cloudy, but with the right models, we can begin to see through them.”

Questions/ comments email Nishil

About the Researcher

Nishil Mehta has been working with MITgcm for two years as part of his doctoral research as a PhD student at Université Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange in France. He studies exoplanet atmospheres under the guidance of Vivien Parmentier (Cloudy with a Chance of Aliens, Wild and Windy Exoplanets) and Tristan Guillot. His research involves using the ADAM general circulation model to simulate exoplanet atmospheres in 3D and compare the resulting spectra with observational data. More details about his research, publications, and contact information can be found on his website: https://nish-03.github.io/nish/

The ADAM (ADvanced Atmospheric MITgcm) model was formerly known as SPARC (the Substellar and Planetary Atmospheric Radiation and Circulation model), a sophisticated tool used to investigate the atmospheric circulation of exoplanets and other planetary bodies based on MITgcm. Early work on SPARC goes back to at least 2008, when it was used to simulate the atmospheric circulation of hot Jupiters. The naming of ADAM honors the late Adam Showman, whose pioneering work laid the foundation for the field of exoplanet atmospheric dynamics.

This Month’s Featured Publication

Other New Publications last month

Allen, J. and Komacek, T. (2025), Circulation models and JWST observations of inflated ultra-hot Jupiters, EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025, Helsinki, Finland, 7–12 Sep 2025, EPSC-DPS2025-1623, doi: 10.5194/epsc-dps2025-1623

Ames, F. et al (2025), Simulating the motional induction of 3D time-mean ocean flows within Enceladus, EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025, Helsinki, Finland, 7–12 Sep 2025, EPSC-DPS2025-1885, doi: 10.5194/epsc-dps2025-1885

Basinski-Ferris, Rory et al (2025), Controls on the ocean response to idealized Antarctic meltwater input, arXiv: 2509.19730

Bhatnagar, S., Codron, F., Millour, E., Bolmont, E., Brunetti, M., Kasparian, J., Turbet, M., and Chaverot, G. (2025), A Fast and Physically Grounded Ocean Model for GCMs: The Dynamical Slab Ocean Model of the Generic-PCM (rev. 3423), EGUsphere, doi: 10.5194/egusphere-2025-3786

Cortés-Morales, D., Lazar, A., Ruiz Pino, D., and Mignot, J. (2025), Global Thermocline Vertical Velocities: a Novel Observation Based Estimate, Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., doi: 10.5194/essd-2025-533, in review, 2025.

Dabu, Ronaldyn Ermac (2025), Storm tide and wave-induced hazards in Cagayan Coastal Boulevard assessment using numerical modeling, Critical Insights in Climate Change, doi: 10.1080/29931495.2025.2493964

Dvornikov, A.Y., Ryabchenko, V.A., Isaev, A.V. et al (2025), Assessment of the Impact of Thermal and Chemical Loading on the Koporye Bay of the Gulf of Finland with the Full Commissioning of the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant-2, Environ Model Assess, doi: 10.1007/s10666-025-10062-w

Fromont, E. et al (2025), Revealing patchy clouds on WASP-43b and WASP-121b through coupled microphysical and hydrodynamical models, EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025, Helsinki, Finland, 7–12 Sep 2025, EPSC-DPS2025-420, doi: 10.5194/epsc-dps2025-420, 2025.

Guilluy, G. et al (2025), The GAPS Programme at TNG, Astronomy and Astrophysics, doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202555702

Guo, Jiaqi et al (2025), Response of Oceanic Meridional Overturning Circulation to Vegetation Removal on Different Continents, JGR Oceans, doi: 10.1029/2025JC022978

Li, Yoran et al (2025), Estimating Meridional Energy Transport by Internal Waves in the Southern Ocean Using a High-Resolution Simulation, via ESS Open Archive, doi: 10.22541/essoar.175648207.77414699/v1

Liu, C., Liang, X., and Yu, L. (2025), Salinity trends and mass balances in the Mediterranean Sea: revisit the role of air-sea freshwater fluxes and oceanic exchange, Ocean Sci., 21, 2069–2083, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2069-2025

Lobo, Matthew and Stephen M Griffies (2025), Two-layer quasi-geostrophic waves and turbulence over a meridionally sloping bottom with linear bottom drag, ESS Open Archive, doi: 10.22541/essoar.175760447.79218471/v1

Ma, Jianhua et al (2025), A Systematic Review of Carbon Sink Pathways and Deployment Strategies, via preprints.org, doi: 10.20944/preprints202509.0346.v1

O’Connor, G.K., Nakayama, Y., Steig, E.J. et al (2025), Enhanced West Antarctic ice loss triggered by polynya response to meridional winds, Nat. Geosci., doi: 10.1038/s41561-025-01757-6

Fendrock, M. et al (2025), Nonlinear transport across the Bering Strait with sill depth shoaling. ESS Open Archive, doi: 10.22541/essoar.175767456.62933729/v1

Gournia, C., Selin, N. E., and Feinberg, A. (2025), Identifying regions that can constrain anthropogenic Hg emissions uncertainties through modelling, EGUsphere [preprint], doi: 10.5194/egusphere-2025-4018

Greig, Lily and David Ferreira (2025), Seasonal impact of submesoscale eddies on the ocean heat budget near the sea ice edge, via EGUSphere, doi: 10.5194/egusphere-2025-4718

Huang, Xuan (2025),  Scalable Visualization Techniques for Large Scientific Data,  The University of Utah ProQuest Dissertations & Theses,  2025. 31934768.

Komacek, T., Cottingham, J., Fromont, E., Gao, P., Powell, D., Kempton, E., and Tan, X.: The impact of cloud microphysics on the atmospheric dynamics of hot Jupiters, EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025, Helsinki, Finland, 7–12 Sep 2025, EPSC-DPS2025-190, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc-dps2025-190, 2025.

Kvorka, Jakub ( 2025), Thermal convection in the subsurface ocean of an icy moon, Doctoral Thesis Charles University, Czechia

Larayedh, Rihab et al (2025), Validating shipping noise simulations for the Red Sea using field measurements, Marine Pollution Bulletin, doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118698

Liu, C., Liang, X., and Yu, L. (2025), Salinity trends and mass balances in the Mediterranean Sea: revisit the role of air-sea freshwater fluxes and oceanic exchange, Ocean Sci., 21, 2069–2083, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-21-2069-2025

Mason, Hassan and K. Shafer Smith (2025), Beaufort Gyre Isopycnal Structure Produces a Steady Mesoscale Eddy Field Modulated by Sea Ice Drag, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, doi: 10.1029/2024JC022273

Papagiannopoulos, N., Langodan, S., Krokos, G. et al. Phytoplankton phenology paradox in an isolated tropical lagoon of the northern Red Sea. Sci Rep 15, 32997 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-17907-0

Ribalet, Francois; Stephanie Dutkiewicz; Erwan Monier; E. Virginia Armbrust (2025), Future Ocean Warming May Cause Large Reductions in Prochlorococcus Biomass and Productivity, Nature Micro., doi: 10.1038/s41564-025-02106-4

Sauve, Jade (2025), Constraining Drivers of the Southern Ocean Carbon Cycle With Autonomous Observations and Numerical Simulations, University of Washington ProQuest Dissertations & Theses,  2025. 32121884

Sustayta, Christian A. (2025), Glider-Based Observations of Physical and Biogeochemical Variability in the Gulf of Mexico, The University of Texas at San Antonio ProQuest Dissertations & Theses,  2025. 32172206

Tarling G et al (2025), BIOPOLE -Biogeochemical processes and ecosystem functioning in changing polar systems and their global impacts, Research Ideas and Outcomes, doi: 10.3897/rio.11.e163757

Tian, Yubing (2025), From Sea to Servers: Temporalities of Data Management and the Limits of Availability in Oceanography, University of Washington ProQuest Dissertations & Theses,  2025. 32119608

Ucekajová, Veronika (2025), Magnetic field in oceans: Parametric study and visualisation, Doctoral Thesis Charles University, Czechia

Wang, Z et al (2025), PDO-Modulated ENSO Impact on Southern South China Sea Winter SST: Multi-Anticyclone Synergy, J. Mar. Sci. Eng., doi: 10.3390/jmse13091741

Wang, Z et al (2025), InWaveSR: Topography-Aware Super-Resolution Network for Internal Solitary Waves, arXiv: 2509.14243

Weeks, Elle and Eli Tziperman (2025), Looking for scaling laws for the width and source depth of coastal upwelling zones, Journal of Physical Oceanography, doi: 10.1175/JPO-D-24-0209.1

Wilcox, Galen et al (2025), Coastal Easterly Winds Impact Transport into Antarctic Ice Shelf Cavities, Journal of Physical Oceanography, doi: 10.1175/JPO-D-24-0217.1

Yao, C., Yan, Y., Zhou, Y. et al. (2025), Comparative analysis of multiple ocean reanalysis datasets in the Arctic, Clim Dyn, doi: 10.1007/s00382-025-07842-1

Yang, Chengcheng et al (2025), Interannual Variability of Lower Circumpolar Deep Water Transport in the North Pacific Influenced by Surface Wind Forcing, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, doi: 10.1029/2025JC022923

Zhang, G., Hu, S., Yu, X., Zhang, H., and Gong, W. (2025), Physical drivers and parameter sensitivities of pearl river-derived sediment dispersal on the Northern South China Sea Shelf: a modeling study, Ocean Sci., doi: 10.5194/os-21-2041-2025

Zhang, Michael et al (2025), A carbon-rich atmosphere on a windy pulsar planet, arXiv: 2509.04558

Zhang, Z., Wu, P., Wang, X. et al (2025), Ecological risk assessment of marine plastic pollution, Nat Sustain, doi: 10.1038/s41893-025-01620-x
—
Do you have news about research using MITgcm? We are looking for contributions to these pages. If you have an interesting MITgcm project (ocean, atmosphere, sea-ice, physics, biology or otherwise) that you want to tell people about, get in touch. To make a post, contact Helen