Early Evolution of Super-Earths: From Magma Ocean to Temperate Surface Conditions
2018
Recent discoveries of potentially temperate rocky
planetsmotivate the better characterization of their surface conditions to predict where life could be detected in the universe. Early habitability of rocky
planetsis determined by the cooling and solidification of the
magma ocean(MO) stage. Indeed, the initial volatile content in the MO and the distance from the host star appear to play key-roles in the solidification of the MO, the extraction of the atmosphere, the existence of clouds and the formation (or not) of a primitive water ocean. However, the atmospheric properties strongly influence the planetary
albedo, and therefore the amount of sunlight reaching the
planetsurface. This in turn acts on the cooling rate of the
planetand its atmosphere
degassing. Using a coupled 1-D MO-
atmosphere model, we systematically studied how the feedback between
albedo, atmospheric composition,
planetary surfacetemperature and clouds, influences the formation of a water ocean at the end of the initial rapid cooling stage of the
planet. Here we extend this approach to different MO scenarios for
super-Earths(ratio of planetary to core radius, volatile delivery) and discuss their potential habitability at the end of the rapid cooling stage.
Keywords:
-
Correction
-
Source
-
Cite
-
Save
0
References
0
Citations
NaN
KQI