The effect of lightning on the atmospheric chemistry of exoplanets and potential biosignatures
| Title: | The effect of lightning on the atmospheric chemistry of exoplanets and potential biosignatures |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Barth, Patrick, Stüeken, Eva E., Helling, Christiane, Schwieterman, Edward W., Telling, Jon |
| Publication Year: | 2024 |
| Collection: | Astrophysics |
| Subject Terms: | Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics |
| More Details: | Lightning has been suggested to play a role in triggering the occurrence of bio-ready chemical species. Future missions (PLATO, ARIEL, HWO, LIFE) and ground-based ELTs will investigate the atmospheres of potentially habitable exoplanets. We aim to study the effect of lightning on the atmospheric chemistry, how it affects false-positive and false-negative biosignatures, and if its effect would be observable on an exo-Earth and on TRAPPIST-1 planets. We use a combination of laboratory experiments, photochemical and radiative transfer modelling. With spark discharge experiments in N2-CO2-H2 gas mixtures, representing a range of possible rocky-planet atmospheres, we investigate the production of potential lightning signatures (CO, NO), possible biosignature gases (N2O, NH3, CH4), and important prebiotic precursors (HCN, Urea). Photochemical simulations are conducted for oxygen-rich and anoxic atmospheres for rocky planets in the habitable zones of the Sun and TRAPPIST-1 for a range of lightning flash rates. Synthetic spectra are calculated using SMART to study the atmosphere's reflectance, emission, and transmission spectra. Lightning enhances the spectral features of NO, NO2, and, in some cases, CO; CH4 and C2H6 may be enhanced indirectly. Lightning at a flash rate slightly higher than on modern Earth can mask the ozone features of an oxygen-rich, biotic atmosphere, making it harder to detect the biosphere. Lightning flash rates at least ten times higher than on modern Earth can mask the presence of ozone in the anoxic, abiotic atmosphere of a planet orbiting a late M dwarf, reducing the potential for a false-positive life-detection. The threshold lightning rates to eliminate oxygen and ozone false positive biosignatures on planets orbiting ultra-cool dwarfs is up to ten times higher than the modern flash rate, suggesting that lightning cannot always prevent these false-positive scenarios. Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. 30 pages, 22 figures (including appendix) |
| Document Type: | Working Paper |
| Access URL: | http://arxiv.org/abs/2402.13682 |
| Accession Number: | edsarx.2402.13682 |
| Database: | arXiv |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: The effect of lightning on the atmospheric chemistry of exoplanets and potential biosignatures – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barth%2C+Patrick%22">Barth, Patrick</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stüeken%2C+Eva+E%2E%22">Stüeken, Eva E.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Helling%2C+Christiane%22">Helling, Christiane</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schwieterman%2C+Edward+W%2E%22">Schwieterman, Edward W.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Telling%2C+Jon%22">Telling, Jon</searchLink> – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Year Group: Date Data: 2024 – Name: Subset Label: Collection Group: HoldingsInfo Data: Astrophysics – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Astrophysics+-+Earth+and+Planetary+Astrophysics%22">Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Description Group: Ab Data: Lightning has been suggested to play a role in triggering the occurrence of bio-ready chemical species. Future missions (PLATO, ARIEL, HWO, LIFE) and ground-based ELTs will investigate the atmospheres of potentially habitable exoplanets. We aim to study the effect of lightning on the atmospheric chemistry, how it affects false-positive and false-negative biosignatures, and if its effect would be observable on an exo-Earth and on TRAPPIST-1 planets. We use a combination of laboratory experiments, photochemical and radiative transfer modelling. With spark discharge experiments in N2-CO2-H2 gas mixtures, representing a range of possible rocky-planet atmospheres, we investigate the production of potential lightning signatures (CO, NO), possible biosignature gases (N2O, NH3, CH4), and important prebiotic precursors (HCN, Urea). Photochemical simulations are conducted for oxygen-rich and anoxic atmospheres for rocky planets in the habitable zones of the Sun and TRAPPIST-1 for a range of lightning flash rates. Synthetic spectra are calculated using SMART to study the atmosphere's reflectance, emission, and transmission spectra. Lightning enhances the spectral features of NO, NO2, and, in some cases, CO; CH4 and C2H6 may be enhanced indirectly. Lightning at a flash rate slightly higher than on modern Earth can mask the ozone features of an oxygen-rich, biotic atmosphere, making it harder to detect the biosphere. Lightning flash rates at least ten times higher than on modern Earth can mask the presence of ozone in the anoxic, abiotic atmosphere of a planet orbiting a late M dwarf, reducing the potential for a false-positive life-detection. The threshold lightning rates to eliminate oxygen and ozone false positive biosignatures on planets orbiting ultra-cool dwarfs is up to ten times higher than the modern flash rate, suggesting that lightning cannot always prevent these false-positive scenarios.<br />Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. 30 pages, 22 figures (including appendix) – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Working Paper – Name: URL Label: Access URL Group: URL Data: <link linkTarget="URL" linkTerm="http://arxiv.org/abs/2402.13682" linkWindow="_blank">http://arxiv.org/abs/2402.13682</link> – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: edsarx.2402.13682 |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Subjects: – SubjectFull: Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: The effect of lightning on the atmospheric chemistry of exoplanets and potential biosignatures Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Barth, Patrick – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Stüeken, Eva E. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Helling, Christiane – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Schwieterman, Edward W. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Telling, Jon IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 21 M: 02 Type: published Y: 2024 |
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