Tidal Timelines: Evolution of Terrestrial Exoplanet Habitability Around Low Mass Stars

Details Tidal Timelines: Evolution of Terrestrial Exoplanet Habitability Around Low Mass Stars Tidal Timelines: Evolution of Terrestrial Exoplanet Habitability Around Low Mass Stars

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.b13b0515m&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #B13B-0515

Biology

[5200] Planetary Sciences: Astrobiology, [5400] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets

Scientific paper

The range of orbits for planetary habitability have traditionally been based on the stellar flux that allows liquid water to persist on a planetary surface. However, when considering terrestrial (rocky) planets close to a low mass star (≤0.35M&sun;), tidal effects must be considered because of the additional energy input from tidal heating. Of further interest is the time over which habitable conditions are generated by tidal interaction. Tides cause orbital evolution, during which the heat flux varies, which may cause the planet to migrate in and out of habitable zones and possibly result in sterilization. So, the heating history of a planet should be a consideration when searching for life-supporting planets. We apply heat flux limitations on habitability (based on observations within our solar system) and tidally evolve planets across a range of initial conditions of orbits and masses. Our results provide a visualization of the time a planet has spent with a favorable amount of tidal heat for habitability and/or the amount of time until the heating is no longer conducive to habitability. As a greater number of close in terrestrial planets are found, these results can provide a method for identifying those planets with the highest potential for life.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Tidal Timelines: Evolution of Terrestrial Exoplanet Habitability Around Low Mass Stars does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Tidal Timelines: Evolution of Terrestrial Exoplanet Habitability Around Low Mass Stars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tidal Timelines: Evolution of Terrestrial Exoplanet Habitability Around Low Mass Stars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1766787