Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2010-05-03
Proceedings IAU Symposium 264, 385-394, 2010
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
6 figures; printed in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union (2009), Cambridge University Press
Scientific paper
10.1017/S1743921309992961
Stellar activity has a particularly strong influence on planets at small orbital distances, such as close-in exoplanets. For such planets, we present two extreme cases of stellar variability, namely stellar coronal mass ejections and stellar wind, which both result in the planetary environment being variable on a timescale of billions of years. For both cases, direct interaction of the streaming plasma with the planetary atmosphere would entail servere consequences. In certain cases, however, the planetary atmosphere can be effectively shielded by a strong planetary magnetic field. The efficiency of this shielding is determined by the planetary magnetic dipole moment, which is difficult to constrain by either models or observations. We present different factors which influence the strength of the planetary magnetic dipole moment. Implications are discussed, including nonthermal atmospheric loss, atmospheric biomarkers, and planetary habitability.
Grenfell John Lee
Grießmeier Jean-Mathias
Khodachenko Maxim
Lammer Helmut
Motschmann Uwe
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