Habitability constraints by nutrient availability in atmospheres of rocky exoplanets

Oliver Herbort*, Peter Woitke, Christiane Helling, Aubrey Lea Zerkle

*Korrespondierende/r Autor/-in für diese Arbeit

Publikation: Beitrag in einer FachzeitschriftArtikelBegutachtung

Abstract

Life as we know it requires the presence of liquid water and the availability of nutrients, which are mainly based on the elements C, H, N, O, P and S (CHNOPS) and trace metal micronutrients. We aim to understand the presence of these nutrients within atmospheres that show the presence of water cloud condensates, potentially allowing the existence of aerial biospheres. In this paper, we introduce a framework of nutrient availability levels based on the presence of water condensates and the chemical state of the CHNOPS elements. These nutrient availability levels are applied to a set of atmospheric models based on different planetary surface compositions resulting in a range of atmospheric compositions. The atmospheric model is a bottom-to-top equilibrium chemistry atmospheric model which includes the atmosphere-crust interaction and the element depletion due to the formation of clouds. While the reduced forms of CNS are present at the water cloud base for most atmospheric compositions, P and metals are lacking. This indicates the potential bio-availability of CNS, while P and metals are limiting factors for aerial biospheres.

Originalspracheenglisch
Aufsatznummere12
FachzeitschriftInternational Journal of Astrobiology
Jahrgang23
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 19 Apr. 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ökologie, Evolution, Verhaltenswissenschaften und Systematik
  • Physik und Astronomie (sonstige)
  • Astronomie und Planetologie
  • Erdkunde und Planetologie (sonstige)

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