New research published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society shows that the search for life on other planets may well be more difficult than previously assumed. The study indicates that unusual air flow patterns could hide atmospheric components from telescopic observations, with direct consequences for formulating the optimal strategy for searching for (oxygen-producing) life such as bacteria or plants on exoplanets.
Current hopes of detecting life on planets outside of our own Solar System rest on examining the planet’s atmosphere to identify chemical compounds that may be produced by living beings. Ozone – a variety of oxygen – is one such molecule, and is seen as one of the possible tracers that may allow us to detect life on another planet from afar.
In Earth’s atmosphere, this compound forms the ozone layer that protects us from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. On an alien planet, ozone could be one piece in the puzzle that indicates the presence of oxygen-producing bacteria or plants.
But now researchers, led by Ludmila Carone of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany, have found that these tracers might be better hidden than we previously thought. Carone and her team considered some of the nearest exoplanets that have the potential to be Earth-like: Proxima b, which is orbiting the star nearest to the Sun (Proxima Centauri), and the most promising of the TRAPPIST-1 family of planets, TRAPPIST-1d.
These are examples of planets that orbit their host star in 25 days or fewer, and as a side effect have one side permanently facing their star, and the other side permanently facing away. Modeling the flow of air within the atmospheres of these planets, Carone and her colleagues found that this unusual day-night divide can have a marked effect on the distribution of ozone across the atmosphere: at least for these planets, the major air flow may lead from the poles to the equator, systematically trapping the ozone in the equatorial region.
Carone says: “Absence of traces of ozone in future observations does not have to mean there is no oxygen at all. It might be found in different places than on Earth, or it might be very well hidden.”
Such unexpected atmospheric structures may also have consequences for habitability, given that most of the planet would not be protected against UV radiation. “In principle, an exoplanet with an ozone layer that covers only the equatorial region may still be habitable,” Carone explains. “Proxima b and TRAPPIST-1d orbit red dwarfs, reddish stars that emit very little harmful UV light to begin with. On the other hand, these stars can be very temperamental, and prone to violent outbursts of harmful radiation including UV.”
The combination of advances in modeling and much better data from telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope is likely to lead to significant progress in this exciting field. “We all knew from the beginning that the hunt for alien life will be a challenge,” says Carone. “As it turns out, we are only just scratching the surface of how difficult it really will be.”
Reference: “Stratosphere circulation on tidally locked ExoEarths” by L. Carone, R. Keppens, L. Decin and Th. Henning, 25 October 2017, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stx2732
Never miss a breakthrough: Join the SciTechDaily newsletter.
Follow us on Google and Google News.
4 Comments
What difference does it make? These stars are all TOO FAR AWAY to do anything more but look at them. Whatever it takes for these white collar workers to keep their cash cow funds coming in to their useless programs of searching for life outside of the Earth. Just imagine what could be accomplished with all of the BILLION$ in research, that are better spent by going towards cleaning up the pollution, and preventing the destruction of habitats that are causing the extinction of species right here at home. Amirite?
Darin, you are welcome to apply for a scientific grant. If your ideas are more scientifically valuable, they will recieve the funding instead. Instead of criticizing the scientific community, you are welcome to participate in it.
Contrary to your opinion, I am participating in the scientific community by my critical post. Deal with it. How many decades has it been now where intensive search for even one single extraterrestrial MICROBE of life has turned up to be exactly ZERO? At what point will we finally start utilizing these billions of $$ of misguided research grant money towards preserving endangered lifeforms here? Do you see NASA stepping up to the plate to do this, or are they just perpetuating the ‘search for e.t. life’ hype, so that they can stay funded?
Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on alcohol and drugs. Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on sugary foods that are killing people. If you want to complain, complain about something important.