China News Agency, Beijing, June 10 (Reporter Sun Zifa) The latest online publication of a natural science research by the international scientific journal Nature-Communications, a subsidiary of the Natural Science Research, claims that carbon-silicate materials on the surface of the planet are commonly known as planetary atmospheric dust , May increase the potential livability of exoplanets. This finding indicates that when studying terrestrial exoplanets, the potential impact of atmospheric dust must be considered.
The paper points out that the so-called "habitable zone" refers to the area around the star where there is a terrestrial planet with liquid water on the surface. Therefore, it is a key target for searching for extraterrestrial life. However, livability also depends on the composition of the planet’s atmosphere. Atmospheric mineral dust may affect the climate system, and until then, it has been ignored when constructing a climate model of exoplanets.
The paper's corresponding author, Ian Boutle of the British Meteorological Office (Ian Boutle) and colleagues used simulations to reveal how planetary atmospheric dust has a significant impact on the habitability of terrestrial exoplanets. Their research found that on tidal-locked planets (always facing the star on the same side), mineral dust cools the planet’s sun and warms the negative, thus expanding the habitable zone of such planets.
The author of the paper believes that mineral dust can slow the water loss of planets on the inner edge of the habitable zone and warm the planets on the outer edge of the habitable zone. By simulating the transmission spectra of exoplanets, they also found that mineral dust can obscure the presence of key biomarkers (such as water vapor and oxygen), and therefore reminded that when interpreting observations related to the habitability of exoplanets, they should also Take this into account. (Finish)