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Atmospheric Biomarkers and their Evolution over Geological Timescales

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2006

Lisa Kaltenegger ,
K. Jucks  and
W. Traub
Lisa Kaltenegger
Affiliation:
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA email: lkaltenegger@cfa.harvard.edu; kjucks@cfa.harvard.edu Present address:Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, MS20, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
K. Jucks
Affiliation:
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA email: lkaltenegger@cfa.harvard.edu; kjucks@cfa.harvard.edu
W. Traub
Affiliation:
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA email: lkaltenegger@cfa.harvard.edu; kjucks@cfa.harvard.edu Jet Propulsion Lab, M/S 301-451, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena CA, 91109, USA email: wtraub@jpl.nasa.gov
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Abstract

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The search for life on extrasolar planets is based on the assumption that one can screen extrasolar planets for habitability spectroscopically. The first space born instruments able to detect as well as characterize extrasolar planets, Darwin and terrestrial planet finder (TPF-I and TPF-C) are scheduled to launch before the end of the next decade. The composition of the planetary surface, atmosphere, and its temperature-pressure profile influence a detectable spectroscopic signal considerably. For future space-based missions it will be crucial to know this influence to interpret the observed signals and detect signatures of life in remotely observed atmospheres. We give an overview of biomarkers in the visible and IR range, corresponding to the TPF-C and TPF-I/DARWIN concepts, respectively. We also give an overview of the evolution of biomarkers over time and its implication for the search for life on extrasolar Earth-like planets. We show that atmospheric features on Earth can provide clues of biological activities for at least 2 billion years.

Keywords

astrobiologyastrochemistryextrasolar planetsEarthatmospheric biomarkers
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 1 , Colloquium C200: Direct Imaging of Exoplanets: Science & Techniques , October 2005 , pp. 259 - 264
Copyright
© 2006 International Astronomical Union