High stellar FUV/NUV ratio and oxygen contents in the atmospheres of potentially habitable planets

Recent observations of several planet-hosting M dwarfs show that most have FUV/NUV flux ratios 1000 times greater than that of the Sun. Here we show that the atmospheric oxygen contents (O 2 and O 3 ) of potentially habitable planets in this type of UV environment could be 2-3 orders of magnitude gr...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Tian, F., France, K., Linsky, J.L., Mauas, P.J.D., Vieytes, M.C.
Formato: JOUR
Materias:
Atmosphere photochemistry
Biosignature
Exoplanet
Habitable planet
Atmospheric oxygen
Biosignatures
Flux ratio
Orders of magnitude
Oxygen content
Carbon dioxide
Oxygen
Photolysis
Stars
Planets
atmospheric chemistry
carbon dioxide
oxygen
photochemistry
photolysis
ultraviolet radiation
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_0012821X_v385_n_p22_Tian
Aporte de:
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) de Universidad de Buenos Aires
Descripción
Sumario:Recent observations of several planet-hosting M dwarfs show that most have FUV/NUV flux ratios 1000 times greater than that of the Sun. Here we show that the atmospheric oxygen contents (O 2 and O 3 ) of potentially habitable planets in this type of UV environment could be 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than those of their counterparts around Sun-like stars as a result of decreased photolysis of O 3 , H 2 O 2 , and HO 2 . Thus detectable levels of atmospheric oxygen, in combination with the existence of H 2 O and CO 2 , may not be the most promising biosignatures on planets around stars with high FUV/NUV ratios such as the observed M dwarfs. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

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