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The bio-habitable zone and atmospheric properties for planets of red dwarfs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2019

A. Wandel Open the ORCID record for A. Wandel [Opens in a new window]  and
J. Gale
A. Wandel*
Affiliation:
The Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
J. Gale
Affiliation:
The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
*
Author for correspondence: A. Wandel, E-mail: 1amri@mail.huji.ac.il
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Abstract

The Kepler data show that habitable small planets orbiting Red Dwarf stars (RDs) are abundant, and hence might be promising targets to look at for biomarkers and life. Planets orbiting within the habitable zone of RDs are close enough to be tidally locked. Some recent works have cast doubt on the ability of planets orbiting RDs to support life. In contrast, it is shown that temperatures suitable for liquid water and even for organic molecules may exist on tidally locked planets (TLPs) of RDs for a wide range of atmospheres. We chart the surface temperature distribution as a function of the irradiation, greenhouse factor and heat circulation. The habitability boundaries and their dependence on the atmospheric properties are derived. By extending our previous analyses of TLPs, we find that tidally locked as well as synchronous (not completely locked) planets of RDs and K-type stars may support life, for a wider range of orbital distance and atmospheric conditions than previously thought. In particular, it is argued that life clement environments may be possible on tidally locked and synchronously orbiting planets of RDs and K-type stars, with conditions supporting oxygenic photosynthesis, which on Earth was a key to complex life. Different climate projections and the biological significance of tidal locking on putative complex life are reviewed. We show that when the effect of continuous radiation is taken into account, the photo-synthetically active radiation available on TLPs, even of RDs, could produce a high-potential plant productivity, in analogy to mid-summer growth at high latitudes on Earth. Awaiting the findings of TESS and JWST, we discuss the implications of the above arguments to the detection of biomarkers such as liquid water and oxygen, as well as to the abundance of biotic planets and life.

Keywords

Bio-signatureshabitable zonephotosynthesisplanetsred dwarf starstidally locked planets
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , April 2020 , pp. 126 - 135
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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