| 1. |
- Del Genio, Anthony D., et al.
(author)
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Climates of Warm Earth-like Planets. III. Fractional Habitability from a Water Cycle Perspective
- 2019
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 887:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The habitable fraction of a planet's surface is important for the detectability of surface biosignatures. The extent and distribution of habitable areas are influenced by external parameters that control the planet's climate, atmospheric circulation, and hydrological cycle. We explore these issues using the ROCKE-3D general circulation model, focusing on terrestrial water fluxes and thus the potential for the existence of complex life on land. Habitability is examined as a function of insolation and planet rotation for an Earth-like world with zero obliquity and eccentricity orbiting the Sun. We assess fractional habitability using an aridity index that measures the net supply of water to the land. Earth-like planets become "superhabitable" (a larger habitable surface area than Earth) as insolation and day-length increase because their climates become more equable, reminiscent of past warm periods on Earth when complex life was abundant and widespread. The most slowly rotating, most highly irradiated planets, though, occupy a hydrological regime unlike any on Earth, with extremely warm, humid conditions at high latitudes but little rain and subsurface water storage. Clouds increasingly obscure the surface as insolation increases, but visibility improves for modest increases in rotation period. Thus, moderately slowly rotating rocky planets with insolation near or somewhat greater than modern Earth's appear to be promising targets for surface characterization by a future direct imaging mission.
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| 2. |
- Kumarathunge, Dushan P., et al.
(author)
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Acclimation and adaptation components of the temperature dependence of plant photosynthesis at the global scale
- 2019
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In: New Phytologist. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0028-646X .- 1469-8137. ; 222:2, s. 768-784
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The temperature response of photosynthesis is one of the key factors determining predicted responses to warming in global vegetation models (GVMs). The response may vary geographically, owing to genetic adaptation to climate, and temporally, as a result of acclimation to changes in ambient temperature. Our goal was to develop a robust quantitative global model representing acclimation and adaptation of photosynthetic temperature responses.We quantified and modelled key mechanisms responsible for photosynthetic temperature acclimation and adaptation using a global dataset of photosynthetic CO2 response curves, including data from 141 C3 species from tropical rainforest to Arctic tundra. We separated temperature acclimation and adaptation processes by considering seasonal and common-garden datasets, respectively.The observed global variation in the temperature optimum of photosynthesis was primarily explained by biochemical limitations to photosynthesis, rather than stomatal conductance or respiration. We found acclimation to growth temperature to be a stronger driver of this variation than adaptation to temperature at climate of origin.We developed a summary model to represent photosynthetic temperature responses and showed that it predicted the observed global variation in optimal temperatures with high accuracy. This novel algorithm should enable improved prediction of the function of global ecosystems in a warming climate.
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| 3. |
- Young, Amber V., et al.
(author)
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Inferring chemical disequilibrium biosignatures for Proterozoic Earth-like exoplanets
- 2024
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In: Nature Astronomy. - : Springer Nature. - 2397-3366. ; 8, s. 101-110
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chemical disequilibrium quantified using the available free energy has previously been proposed as a potential biosignature. However, researchers remotely sensing exoplanet biosignatures have not yet investigated how observational uncertainties impact the ability to infer a life-generated available free energy. We pair an atmospheric retrieval tool to a thermodynamics model to assess the detectability of chemical disequilibrium signatures of Earth-like exoplanets, focusing on the Proterozoic eon when the atmospheric abundances of oxygen-methane disequilibrium pairs may have been relatively high. Retrieval model studies applied across a range of gas abundances revealed that order-of-magnitude constraints on the disequilibrium energy are achieved with simulated reflected-light observations for the high-abundance scenario and high signal-to-noise ratios (50), whereas weak constraints are found for moderate signal-to-noise ratios (20-30) and medium- to low-abundance cases. Furthermore, the disequilibrium-energy constraints are improved by using the modest thermal information encoded in water vapour opacities at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. These results highlight how remotely detecting chemical disequilibrium biosignatures can be a useful and metabolism-agnostic approach to biosignature detection. Chemical disequilibrium is a known biosignature, and it is important to determine the conditions for its remote detection. A thermodynamical model coupled with atmospheric retrieval shows that a disequilibrium can be inferred for a Proterozoic Earth-like exoplanet in reflected light at a high O2/CH4 abundance case and signal-to-noise ratio of 50.
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| 4. |
- Aleinov, I, et al.
(author)
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Modeling a Transient Secondary Paleolunar Atmosphere : 3-D Simulations and Analysis
- 2019
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 46:10, s. 5107-5116
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The lunar history of water deposition, loss, and transport postaccretion has become an important consideration in relation to the possibility of a human outpost on the Moon. Very recent work has shown that a secondary primordial atmosphere of up to 10 mbar could have been emplaced similar to 3.5 x 10(9) years ago due to volcanic outgassing from the maria. Using a zero-dimensional chemistry model, we demonstrate the temperature dependence of the resulting major atmospheric components (CO or CO2). We use a three-dimensional general circulation model to test the viability of such an atmosphere and derive its climatological characteristics. Based on these results, we then conjecture on its capability to transport volatiles outgassed from the maria to the permanently shadowed regions at the poles. Our preliminary results demonstrate that atmospheres as low as 1 mbar are viable and that permanent cold trapping of volatiles is only possible at the poles.
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| 5. |
- Andrews, David J., et al.
(author)
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Plasma observations during the Mars atmospheric "plume" event of March-April 2012
- 2016
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 121:4, s. 3139-3154
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present initial analyses and conclusions from plasma observations made during the reported "Mars plume event" of March-April 2012. During this period, multiple independent amateur observers detected a localized, high-altitude "plume" over the Martian dawn terminator, the cause of which remains to be explained. The estimated brightness of the plume exceeds that expected for auroral emissions, and its projected altitude greatly exceeds that at which clouds are expected to form. We report on in situ measurements of ionospheric plasma density and solar wind parameters throughout this interval made by Mars Express, obtained over the same surface region but at the opposing terminator. Measurements in the ionosphere at the corresponding location frequently show a disturbed structure, though this is not atypical for such regions with intense crustal magnetic fields. We tentatively conclude that the formation and/or transport of this plume to the altitudes where it was observed could be due in part to the result of a large interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) encountering the Martian system. Interestingly, we note that the only similar plume detection in May 1997 may also have been associated with a large ICME impact at Mars.
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| 6. |
- Arnadottir, Anna, et al.
(author)
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The Meridian S02E05 : New insights into Venus' past & an erupting volcano
- 2022
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Artistic work (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Michael Way works at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies where he is modeling planetary atmospheres, with a special interest for Venus and its history. He was visiting Lund Observatory to give a talk at the Källén Seminars for Young Astronomers recently, and we invited him onto the podcast to ask him if there is a chance that Venus has ever been habitable (Spoiler: the answer is 'yes'). In this second season of the Meridian we are also bringing you some field reporting from the Nordic Optical Telescope on La Palma, where a team of astronomers are trying to catch an ultra-hot Jupiter-sized exoplanet.
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| 7. |
- Bergvall, Nils, et al.
(author)
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Local starburst galaxies and their descendants Statistics from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
- 2016
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 587
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims. Despite strong interest in the starburst phenomenon in extragalactic astronomy, the concept remains ill-defined. Here we use a strict definition of starburst to examine the statistical properties of starburst galaxies in the local universe. We also seek to establish links between starburst galaxies, post-starburst (hereafter postburst) galaxies, and active galaxies.Methods. Data were selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR7. We applied a novel method of treating dust attenuation and derive star formation rates, ages, and stellar masses assuming a two-component stellar population model. Dynamical masses are calculated from the width of the H alpha line. These masses agree excellently with the photometric masses. The mass (gas + stars) range is similar to 10(9)-10(11.5) M-circle dot. As a selection criterion for starburst galaxies, we use, the birthrate parameter, b = SFR/< SFR >, requiring that b >= 3. For postburst galaxies, we use, the equivalent width of H delta in absorption with the criterion EWH delta,abs >= 6 angstrom.Results. We find that only 1% of star-forming galaxies are starburst galaxies. They contribute 3 6% to the stellar production and are therefore unimportant for the local star formation activity. The median starburst age is 70 Myr roughly independent of mass, indicating that star formation is mainly regulated by local feedback processes. The b-parameter strongly depends on burst age. Values close to b = 60 are found at ages similar to 10 Myr, while almost no starbursts are found at ages >1 Gyr. The median baryonic burst mass fraction of sub-L* galaxies is 5% and decreases slowly towards high masses. The median mass fraction of the recent burst in the postburst sample is 5-10%. A smaller fraction of the postburst galaxies, however, originates in non-bursting galaxies. The age-mass distribution of the postburst progenitors (with mass fractions >3%) is bimodal with a break at log M (M-circle dot) similar to 10.6, above which the ages are doubled. The starburst and postburst luminosity functions (LFs) follow each other closely until M-r similar to -21, when active galactic nuclei (AGNs) begin to dominate. The postburst LF continues to follow the AGN LF, while starbursts become less significant. This suggests that the number of luminous starbursts is underestimated by about one dex at high luminosities, because of having large amounts of dust and/or being outshone by an AGN. It also indicates that the starburst phase preceded the AGN phase. Finally, we look at the conditions for global gas outflow caused by stellar feedback and find that massive starburst galaxies are susceptible to such outflows.
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| 8. |
- Blackledge, B. W., et al.
(author)
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Tides on Other Earths : Implications for Exoplanet and Palaeo-Tidal Simulations
- 2020
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 47:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A key controller of a planet's rotational evolution, and hence habitability, is tidal dissipation, which on Earth is dominated by the ocean tides. Because exoplanet or deep‐time Earth topographies are unknown, a statistical ensemble is used to constrain possible tidal dissipation rates on an Earth‐like planet. A dedicated tidal model is used together with 120 random continental configurations to simulate Earth's semidiurnal lunar tide. The results show a possible ocean tidal dissipation range spanning 3 orders of magnitude, between 2.3 GWto 1.9 TW (1 TW=1012 W). When model resolution is considered, this compares well with theoretical limits derived for the energetics of Earth's present‐day deep ocean. Consequently, continents exert a fundamental control on tidal dissipation rates and we suggest that plate tectonics on a planet will induce a time‐varying dissipation analogous to Earth's. This will alter rotational periods over millions of years and further complicate the role of tides for planetary evolution.Plain Language SummaryThe daylength of a planet is key for habitability because it regulates the rate with which solar radiation is received and redistributed at the surface. A main controller of a planet's daylength is the ocean tide, because the dissipation of tidal energy works as a brake on the planet's spin, increasing the daylength. Tides are sensitive to the continental arrangement on a planet, but there are no details of the surface of any exoplanet and only limited information of what Earth looked like in the distant past. The change in Earth's daylength forces the Moon to recede into a higher orbit, but the present‐day recession rate is very high and does not fit our age models of the moon, implying that the tides must have been much weaker in the distant past. Here, we use a series of tidal predictions for random continental configurations of Earth to provide a range of tidal dissipation rates and thus an estimate of how the tides in the deep past may have evolved as Earth's continents grew more and more complex. This research also provides a range of dissipation rates that can be used for simulations of the rotational and orbital evolution of exoplanets.
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| 9. |
- Carter, Jennifer L., et al.
(author)
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Hyper Illumination of Exoplanets : Analytical and Numerical Approaches
- 2024
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In: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 167:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This work describes the illumination of exoplanets whose orbits are close enough to their host star that the finite angular size of their host star causes hyper illumination, in which more than 50% of the planet receives light. Such exoplanets include the hot Jupiters KELT-9 b (64.5% illuminated) and Kepler-91 b (69.6% illuminated). We describe the geometry of three primary illumination zones: the fully illuminated zone, penumbral zone, and unilluminated zone. The integrals required to determine the incident radiation as a function of position from the substellar point on the exoplanet are explained and derived, and the analytical solution is presented within the fully illuminated zone. We find that the illumination predicted by our model is greater at the substellar point than the typical plane-parallel ray model used would suggest. In addition, it is greater within the region of the penumbral zone extending into the antistellar side of the exoplanet. Finally, we compare our model to that used in starry, an open-source software package used to create albedo maps. It appears that starry may be overestimating the illumination of closely orbiting exoplanets because the foreshortening of the area element of the host star is not included in its calculation.
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| 10. |
- Colose, Christopher M., et al.
(author)
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Effects of Spin-Orbit Resonances and Tidal Heating on the Inner Edge of the Habitable Zone
- 2021
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 921:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Much attention has been given to the climate dynamics and habitable boundaries of synchronously rotating planets around low mass stars. However, other rotational states are possible, including spin-orbit resonant configurations, particularly when higher eccentricity orbits can be maintained in a system. Additionally, the oscillating strain as a planet moves from periastron to apoastron results in friction and tidal heating, which can be an important energy source. Here, we simulate the climate of ocean-covered planets near the inner edge of the habitable zone around M to solar stars with the NASA GISS ROCKE-3D general circulation model, and leverage the planetary evolution software package, VPLanet, to calculate tidal heating rates for Earth-sized planets orbiting 2600 and 3000 K stars. This study is the first to use a 3D general circulation model that implements tidal heating to investigate habitability for multiple resonant states. We find that for reference experiments without tidal heating, the resonant state has little impact on the radial position of the inner edge because for a given stellar flux, higher-order states tend to be warmer than synchronous rotators, but for a given temperature, have drier upper atmospheres. However, when strong tidal heating is present, the rotational component implies a strong dependence of habitable conditions on the system evolution and rotational state. Since tidal and stellar heating both decrease rapidly with orbital distance, this results in a compact orbital width separating temperate and uninhabitable climates. We summarize these results and also compare ROCKE-3D to previously published simulations of the inner edge.
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