Detecting Biosignatures in an Evolving Earth-like Atmosphere via New Worlds Observer

Details Detecting Biosignatures in an Evolving Earth-like Atmosphere via New Worlds Observer Detecting Biosignatures in an Evolving Earth-like Atmosphere via New Worlds Observer

Dec 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agufm.p33d..08d&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #P33D-08

Physics

0325 Evolution Of The Atmosphere (1610, 8125), 0424 Biosignatures And Proxies, 0480 Remote Sensing, 1610 Atmosphere (0315, 0325), 8125 Evolution Of The Earth (0325)

Scientific paper

Over 300 extrasolar planets have been discovered in the last decade. Detection methods include indirect means such as transits and dopplar shift and only one has been directly imaged. New Worlds Observer is a mission that will revolutionize the direct detection of extrasolar planets by not only having the capability to image terrestrial-sized planets close to the star, but will also analyze the spectrum of the planet's atmosphere and surface. We have simulated what an 'Earth' will look like as a function of its atmospheric evolution. The biosignatures of the Earth are shown to evolve significantly. New Worlds will be able to analyze exo- atmospheres with a spectrograph and will specifically look for biosignatures. Levels of molecular Oxygen and Methane, as low as 3% and 0.3% of the total atmosphere respectively, can be achieved with New World technology. These levels correspond to detecting microbial life (methanogens) as early as 1.5 billion years after the formation of a planet, or photosynthetic life on a more mature planet.

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