Sporadic Spin-orbit Variations in Compact Multiplanet Systems and Their Influence on Exoplanet Climate
Climate modeling has shown that tidally influenced terrestrial exoplanets, particularly those orbiting M-dwarfs, have unique atmospheric dynamics and surface conditions that may enhance their likelihood to host viable habitats. However, sporadic libration and rotation induced by planetary interactio...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acbd33 |
| _version_ | 1797695849335095296 |
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| author | Howard Chen Gongjie Li Adiv Paradise Ravi K. Kopparapu |
| author_facet | Howard Chen Gongjie Li Adiv Paradise Ravi K. Kopparapu |
| author_sort | Howard Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Climate modeling has shown that tidally influenced terrestrial exoplanets, particularly those orbiting M-dwarfs, have unique atmospheric dynamics and surface conditions that may enhance their likelihood to host viable habitats. However, sporadic libration and rotation induced by planetary interactions, such as those due to mean motion resonances (MMR) in compact planetary systems, may destabilize attendant exoplanets away from synchronized states (1:1 spin-orbit ratios). Here, we use a three-dimensional N-rigid-body integrator and an intermediately complex general circulation model to simulate the evolving climates of TRAPPIST-1 e and f with different orbital- and spin-evolution pathways. Planet f scenarios perturbed by MMR effects with chaotic spin variations are colder and dryer compared to their synchronized counterparts due to the zonal drift of the substellar point away from open ocean basins of their initial eyeball states. On the other hand, the differences between perturbed and synchronized planet e are minor due to higher instellation, warmer surfaces, and reduced climate hysteresis. This is the first study to incorporate the time-dependent outcomes of direct gravitational N-rigid-body simulations into 3D climate modeling of extrasolar planets, and our results show that planets at the outer edge of the habitable zones in compact multiplanet systems are vulnerable to rapid global glaciations. In the absence of external mechanisms such as orbital forcing or tidal heating, these planets could be trapped in permanent snowball states. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:18:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95e0335726cf4c1ab6a2eb634ed0d591 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-8205 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T03:18:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-95e0335726cf4c1ab6a2eb634ed0d5912023-09-03T14:08:22ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Letters2041-82052023-01-019462L3210.3847/2041-8213/acbd33Sporadic Spin-orbit Variations in Compact Multiplanet Systems and Their Influence on Exoplanet ClimateHoward Chen0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1995-1351Gongjie Li1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8308-0808Adiv Paradise2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6774-7430Ravi K. Kopparapu3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5893-2471Planetary Environments Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA ; hchen@fit.edu; GSFC Sellers Exoplanet Environments Collaboration, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , USA; Department of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology , Melbourne, FL 32901, USASchool of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, GA 30332, USADepartment of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto , Ontario, CanadaPlanetary Environments Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA ; hchen@fit.edu; GSFC Sellers Exoplanet Environments Collaboration, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , USAClimate modeling has shown that tidally influenced terrestrial exoplanets, particularly those orbiting M-dwarfs, have unique atmospheric dynamics and surface conditions that may enhance their likelihood to host viable habitats. However, sporadic libration and rotation induced by planetary interactions, such as those due to mean motion resonances (MMR) in compact planetary systems, may destabilize attendant exoplanets away from synchronized states (1:1 spin-orbit ratios). Here, we use a three-dimensional N-rigid-body integrator and an intermediately complex general circulation model to simulate the evolving climates of TRAPPIST-1 e and f with different orbital- and spin-evolution pathways. Planet f scenarios perturbed by MMR effects with chaotic spin variations are colder and dryer compared to their synchronized counterparts due to the zonal drift of the substellar point away from open ocean basins of their initial eyeball states. On the other hand, the differences between perturbed and synchronized planet e are minor due to higher instellation, warmer surfaces, and reduced climate hysteresis. This is the first study to incorporate the time-dependent outcomes of direct gravitational N-rigid-body simulations into 3D climate modeling of extrasolar planets, and our results show that planets at the outer edge of the habitable zones in compact multiplanet systems are vulnerable to rapid global glaciations. In the absence of external mechanisms such as orbital forcing or tidal heating, these planets could be trapped in permanent snowball states.https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acbd33Exoplanet atmospheresPlanetary climatesExtrasolar rocky planetsN-body simulationsHabitable planetsPlanetary dynamics |
| spellingShingle | Howard Chen Gongjie Li Adiv Paradise Ravi K. Kopparapu Sporadic Spin-orbit Variations in Compact Multiplanet Systems and Their Influence on Exoplanet Climate The Astrophysical Journal Letters Exoplanet atmospheres Planetary climates Extrasolar rocky planets N-body simulations Habitable planets Planetary dynamics |
| title | Sporadic Spin-orbit Variations in Compact Multiplanet Systems and Their Influence on Exoplanet Climate |
| title_full | Sporadic Spin-orbit Variations in Compact Multiplanet Systems and Their Influence on Exoplanet Climate |
| title_fullStr | Sporadic Spin-orbit Variations in Compact Multiplanet Systems and Their Influence on Exoplanet Climate |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sporadic Spin-orbit Variations in Compact Multiplanet Systems and Their Influence on Exoplanet Climate |
| title_short | Sporadic Spin-orbit Variations in Compact Multiplanet Systems and Their Influence on Exoplanet Climate |
| title_sort | sporadic spin orbit variations in compact multiplanet systems and their influence on exoplanet climate |
| topic | Exoplanet atmospheres Planetary climates Extrasolar rocky planets N-body simulations Habitable planets Planetary dynamics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acbd33 |
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