# Exoplanet Clouds

## TL;DR

This paper discusses the formation, composition, and impact of clouds in exoplanet atmospheres, emphasizing the need for advanced modeling to interpret observational data and understand these complex environments.

## Contribution

It highlights the importance of modeling exoplanet clouds to interpret observations and understand their composition and effects on atmospheric energy budgets.

## Key findings

- Exoplanet clouds are made of diverse materials that vary with atmospheric depth.
- Clouds significantly influence atmospheric element distribution and energy balance.
- Observations suggest particle sizes and compositions, but detailed models are needed.

## Abstract

Clouds also form in atmospheres of planets that orbit other stars than our Sun, in so-called extrasolar planets or exoplanets. Exoplanet atmospheres can be chemically extremely rich. Exoplanet clouds are therefor made of a mix of materials that changes throughout the atmosphere. They affect the atmospheres through element depletion and through absorption and scattering, hence, they have a profound impact on the atmosphere's energy budget. While astronomical observations point us to the presence of extrasolar clouds and make first suggestions on particle sizes and material compositions, we require fundamental and complex modelling work to merge the individual observations into a coherent picture. Part of this is to develop an understanding for cloud formation in non-terrestrial environments.