Atmospheric Electrification in Dusty, Reactive Gases in the Solar System and Beyond

Helling, Christiane; Harrison, R. G.; Honary, F.; Diver, D. A.; Aplin, Karen; Dobbs-Dixon, Ian; Ebert, Ute; Inutsuka, S.; Gordillo‐Vázquez, F. J.; Littlefair, S.

doi:10.1007/s10712-016-9361-7

Cited by 23 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 220 publications

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“…3, 4, 5). We note that our gas-phase results for CoRot-7b so far suggest that the atmosphere is highly ionised and plasma process may therefore effect the atmosphere (Helling et al 2016a). ], mean cloud particle size a [µm], dust-to-gas ration ρ d /ρ gas ) for 5 sets of element abundances (BSE, BC, UC, MORB, solar).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Cloud formation in metal-rich atmospheres of hot super-Earths like 55 Cnc e and CoRoT7b

Mahapatra

Helling

Miguel

2017

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Clouds form in the atmospheres of planets where they can determine the observable spectra, the albedo and phase curves. Cloud properties are determined by the local thermodynamical and chemical conditions of an atmospheric gas. A retrieval of gas abundances requires a comprehension of the cloud formation mechanisms under varying chemical conditions. With the aim of studying cloud formation in metal rich atmospheres, we explore the possibility of clouds in evaporating exoplanets like CoRoT-7b and 55 Cnc e in comparison to a generic set of solar abundances and the metal-rich gas giant HD149026b. We assess the impact of metal-rich, non-solar element abundances on the gas-phase chemistry, and apply our kinetic, non-equilibrium cloud formation model to study cloud structures and their details. We provide an overview of global cloud properties in terms of material compositions, maximum particle formation rates, and average cloud particle sizes for various sets of rocky element abundances. Our results suggest that the conditions on 55 Cnc e and HD149026b should allow the formation of mineral clouds in their atmosphere. The high temperatures on some hot-rocky superEarths (e.g. the day-side of Corot-7b) result in an ionised atmospheric gas and they prevent gas condensation, making cloud formation unlikely on its day-side.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Cloud formation in metal-rich atmospheres of hot super-Earths like 55 Cnc e and CoRoT7b

Mahapatra

Helling

Miguel

2017

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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“…The criteria for an extrasolar global electric circuit include not only global charge-separation processes and current flows, but also globally prevalent upper and lower conductive regions (Sect. 3.3 in Helling et al 2016a; see Fig. 7).…”

Section: Lightning On Exoplanet and The Extrasolar Global Electric CImentioning

confidence: 88%

Exoplanet Clouds

Helling

2019

Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci.

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Clouds also form in atmospheres of planets that orbit other stars than our Sun, in so-called extrasolar planets or exoplanets. Exoplanet atmospheres can be chemically extremely rich. Exoplanet clouds are therefor made of a mix of materials that changes throughout the atmosphere. They affect the atmospheres through element depletion and through absorption and scattering, hence, they have a profound impact on the atmosphere's energy budget. While astronomical observations point us to the presence of extrasolar clouds and make first suggestions on particle sizes and material compositions, we require fundamental and complex modelling work to merge the individual observations into a coherent picture. Part of this is to develop an understanding for cloud formation in non-terrestrial environments.

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“…Observations of dust electrification are sparse in literature, both because this field of study is relatively young and because of the difficulty in sampling stochastic dust activity. There is renewed interest in dust electrification due to its consequences for human activities such as the breakdown of power transmission lines, electrical alignment of atmospheric particles (Ulanowski et al 2007), volcanic plume electrification (Mather and Harrison 2006) and planetary exploration (Helling et al 2016). In this latter case, the presence of electric discharges or electromagnetic noise can potentially affect communications or communications equipment, but substantial electric fields have also been argued to affect atmospheric chemistry and planet habitability and the possible development of life (Miller 1953), in particular for Mars.…”

Section: Charge Separation In Dustmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Electrified Dust and Dust Devil Electrodynamics to Martian Atmospheric Electricity

Harrison¹,

Barth²,

Esposito³

et al. 2017

Space Sciences Series of ISSI

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Atmospheric transport and suspension of dust frequently brings electrification, which may be substantial. Electric fields of 10 kV m −1 to 100 kV m −1 have been observed at the surface beneath suspended dust in the terrestrial atmosphere, and some electrification has been observed to persist in dust at levels to 5 km, as well as in volcanic plumes. The interaction between individual particles which causes the electrification is incompletely understood, and multiple processes are thought to be acting. A variation in particle charge with particle size, and the effect of gravitational separation explains to, some extent, the charge structures observed in terrestrial dust storms. More extensive flow-based modelling demonstrates that bulk electric fields in excess of 10 kV m −1 can be obtained rapidly (in less than 10 s) from rotating dust systems (dust devils) and that terrestrial breakdown fields can be obtained. Modelled profiles of electrical conductivity in the Martian atmosphere suggest the possibility of dust electrification, and dust devils have been suggested as a mechanism of charge separation able to maintain current flow between one region of the atmosphere and another, through a global circuit. Fundamental new understanding of Martian atmospheric electricity will result from the ExoMars mission, which carries the DREAMS (Dust characterization, Risk Assessment, and Environment Analyser on the Martian Surface

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Atmospheric Electrification in Dusty, Reactive Gases in the Solar System and Beyond

Cited by 23 publications

References 220 publications

Cloud formation in metal-rich atmospheres of hot super-Earths like 55 Cnc e and CoRoT7b

Cloud formation in metal-rich atmospheres of hot super-Earths like 55 Cnc e and CoRoT7b

Exoplanet Clouds

Applications of Electrified Dust and Dust Devil Electrodynamics to Martian Atmospheric Electricity

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