Atmospheric modelling of tidally-locked exoplanets

潮汐锁定系外行星的大气模型

• 批准号: 2708790
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Birkbeck, University of London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2708790
• 关键词: Atmospheric; modelling; tidally; locked; exoplanets

Climate models have enabled us to examine the governing processes, dynamics, and lim- its of the Earth system, including of the feedbacks that can drastically transform the climate. These models have also been adapted to study the diversity of other planetary climatologies, and in particular of the range of habitable conditions that might lead to the emergence of life. The most abundant group of potentially habitable planets are those orbiting M-dwarf stars, of which the recent launch and technological advances of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will aid further investigation. Preliminary modelling studies have shown that the at- mospheres of these planets may be stable despite their tidally-locked nature, albeit with an unusual climatology which may have implications on their habitability. Making use of the plethora of Earth climate data available, the project will begin by exploring a climatologically- based definition of surface habitability. Specifically, this definition should have the ability to be applied to 3D climate model output data, as well as allow a comparison of habitability be- tween a diverse range of planets with different orbital properties and stellar hosts. This will be followed by an investigation into the 'generalisation' of surface habitability, that is, determin- ing whether the 'aquaplanet simplification' commonly used in exoplanet climate modelling studies provides an adequate approximation in representing the climate and habitability of an Earth-like planet some unknown continental configuration. The final chapter focuses upon the habitability of tidally-locked planets, aiming to connect the atmospheric dynamics with spatial patterns of surface habitability, and building upon the literature which establishes a dependence of planetary rotation period with atmospheric circulation regime.

气候模型使我们能够研究地球系统的控制过程、动态和极限，包括可以彻底改变气候的反馈。这些模型也被用来研究其他行星气候的多样性，特别是可能导致生命出现的宜居条件的范围。最丰富的潜在宜居行星是那些围绕 M 矮星运行的行星，詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜 (JWST) 最近的发射和技术进步将有助于进一步研究这些行星。初步建模研究表明，尽管这些行星具有潮汐锁定的性质，但它们的大气层可能是稳定的，尽管其不寻常的气候可能对其宜居性产生影响。该项目将利用大量可用的地球气候数据，首先探索基于气候学的地表宜居性定义。具体来说，这个定义应该能够应用于 3D 气候模型输出数据，并允许对具有不同轨道特性的各种行星和恒星宿主之间的宜居性进行比较。接下来将对表面宜居性的“概括”进行调查，即确定系外行星气候模型研究中常用的“水行星简化”是否能够充分近似地表示类似地球行星（某些未知大陆构造）的气候和宜居性。最后一章重点讨论潮汐锁定行星的宜居性，旨在将大气动力学与表面宜居性的空间模式联系起来，并以建立行星自转周期与大气环流状况的依赖性的文献为基础。