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Narrow Loophole for H2-Dominated Atmospheres on Habitable Rocky Planets around M Dwarfs
- Source :
- The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol 948, Iss 2, p L20 (2023)
- Publication Year :
- 2023
- Publisher :
- IOP Publishing, 2023.
-
Abstract
- Habitable rocky planets around M dwarfs that have H _2 -dominated atmospheres, if they exist, would permit characterizing habitable exoplanets with detailed spectroscopy using JWST, owing to their extended atmospheres and small stars. However, the H _2 -dominated atmospheres that are consistent with habitable conditions cannot be too massive, and a moderate-sized H _2 -dominated atmosphere will lose mass to irradiation-driven atmospheric escape on rocky planets around M dwarfs. We evaluate volcanic outgassing and serpentinization as two potential ways to supply H _2 and form a steady-state H _2 -dominated atmosphere. For rocky planets of 1–7 M _⊕ and early-, mid-, and late M-type dwarfs, the expected volcanic outgassing rates from a reduced mantle fall short of the escape rates by > ∼ 1 order of magnitude, and a generous upper limit of the serpentinization rate is still less than the escape rate by a factor of a few. Special mechanisms that may sustain the steady-state H _2 -dominated atmosphere include direct interaction between liquid water and mantle, heat-pipe volcanism from a reduced mantle, and hydrodynamic escape slowed down by efficient upper-atmospheric cooling. It is thus unlikely to find moderate-size, H _2 -dominated atmospheres on rocky planets of M dwarfs that would support habitable environments.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20418213 and 20418205
- Volume :
- 948
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- The Astrophysical Journal Letters
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.9d53fc692e1a487fbe22010ccde1638c
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acd0b4