Journal article
A multispecies pseudoadiabat for simulating condensable-rich exoplanet atmospheres
- Abstract:
- Central stages in the evolution of rocky, potentially habitable planets may play out under atmospheric conditions with a large inventory of nondilute condensable components. Variations in condensate retention and accompanying changes in local lapse rate may substantially affect planetary climate and surface conditions, but there is currently no general theory to effectively describe such atmospheres. In this article, expanding on the work by Li et al., we generalize the single-component moist pseudoadiabat derivation in Pierrehumbert to allow for multiple condensing components of arbitrary diluteness and retained condensate fraction. The introduction of a freely tunable retained condensate fraction allows for a flexible, self-consistent treatment of atmospheres with nondilute condensable components. To test the pseudoadiabat's capabilities for simulating a diverse range of climates, we apply the formula to planetary atmospheres with compositions, surface pressures, and temperatures representing important stages with condensable-rich atmospheres in the evolution of terrestrial planets: a magma ocean planet in a runaway greenhouse state; a post-impact, late-veneer-analog planet with a complex atmospheric composition; and an Archean Earth-like planet near the outer edge of the classical circumstellar habitable zone. We find that variations in the retention of multiple nondilute condensable species can significantly affect the lapse rate and in turn outgoing radiation and the spectral signatures of planetary atmospheres. The presented formulation allows for a more comprehensive treatment of the climate evolution of rocky exoplanets and early Earth analogs.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
Actions
Access Document
- Files:
-
-
(Preview, Version of record, 1.0MB, Terms of use)
-
- Publisher copy:
- 10.3847/PSJ/ac214c
Authors
- Publisher:
- American Astronomical Society
- Journal:
- Planetary Science Journal More from this journal
- Volume:
- 2
- Issue:
- 5
- Article number:
- 207
- Publication date:
- 2021-10-06
- Acceptance date:
- 2021-08-24
- DOI:
- EISSN:
-
2632-3338
- Language:
-
English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
-
1215943
- Local pid:
-
pubs:1215943
- Deposit date:
-
2021-12-02
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Graham et al.
- Copyright date:
- 2021
- Rights statement:
- © 2021. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
If you are the owner of this record, you can report an update to it here: Report update to this record