Examining Tatooine: Atmospheric Models of Neptune-Like Circumbinary Planets

May, Erin M.; Rauscher, Emily

doi:10.3847/0004-637x/826/2/225

Cited by 42 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…This section examines the amplitude of temperature variation due to the time‐dependent circumbinary gyration effect. The analytic energy balance calculations shown below demonstrate that the effect typically causes temperature to oscillate by only a few degrees for most cases, which is consistent with previous results (May & Rauscher, ; Popp & Eggl, ). At the same time, planets with a much lower effective heat capacity may experience tens of degrees of temperature change.…”

Section: Analytic Energy Balance Modelsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…The largest changes in temperature occur for planets with low effective heat capacity and a large amplitude of periodic forcing. Most of the parameter space shows only a few degrees total warming (and, analogously, the same amount of cooling), which corroborate previous studies (May & Rauscher, ; Popp & Eggl, ). This suggests that the gyration effect is unlikely to substantially undermine the habitability of an Earth‐like planet under the most typical conditions.…”

Section: Analytic Energy Balance Modelsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…that shifts the maximum in circumbinary variation from the equator toward the poles with the seasons (May & Rauscher, ). We therefore consider a set of calculations similar to those shown in Figure but with Earth‐like obliquity.…”

Section: Numerical Energy Balance Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such results corroborate other studies that have generally found modest deviations from the mean flux approximation when considering variations in a planet's orbital eccentricity (Bolmont et al, ; Dressing et al, ; Way and Georgakarakos, ). May and Rauscher () examine this periodic variation in instellation for Neptune‐like circumbinary planets in the Kepler‐47 system by using both an energy balance model and an idealized general circulation model (GCM) to calculate the maximum temperature changes expected. May and Rauscher () find that Neptune‐like circumbinary planets would experience no more than one percent variation in temperature from the gyration effect.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Constraining the Magnitude of Climate Extremes From Time‐Varying Instellation on a Circumbinary Terrestrial Planet

et al. 2019

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Planets that revolve around a binary pair of stars are known as circumbinary planets. The orbital motion of the stars around their center of mass causes a periodic variation in the total instellation incident upon a circumbinary planet. This study uses both an analytic and numerical energy balance model to calculate the extent to which this effect can drive changes in surface temperature on circumbinary terrestrial planets. We show that the amplitude of the temperature variation is largely constrained by the effective heat capacity, which corresponds to the ocean‐to‐land ratio on the planet. Planets with large ocean fractions should experience only modest warming and cooling of only a few degrees, which suggests that habitability cannot be precluded for such circumbinary planets. Planets with large land fractions that experience extreme periodic forcing could be prone to changes in temperature of tens of degrees or more, which could drive more extreme climate changes that inhibit continuously habitable conditions.

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Section: Analytic Energy Balance Modelsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Analytic Energy Balance Modelsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Numerical Energy Balance Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Constraining the Magnitude of Climate Extremes From Time‐Varying Instellation on a Circumbinary Terrestrial Planet

et al. 2019

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“…Large-scale variations in a circumbinary planet's insolation are caused by the rapidly changing distances between the stars and the planet which in turn stem from the gravitational interaction between the celestial bodies. A recent study investigated the atmospheric dynamics of a gas giant orbiting a binary star using longitudinally averaged energy balance models (LEBM) as well as a general circulation models (GCM) using a simplified dynamical model for the motion of the planet around the double star12. They conclude that the variable radiative forcing does not have a significant influence on the circulation patterns.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate variations on Earth-like circumbinary planets

Popp

Eggl

2017

Nat Commun

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The discovery of planets orbiting double stars at close distances has sparked increasing scientific interest in determining whether Earth-analogues can remain habitable in such environments and how their atmospheric dynamics is influenced by the rapidly changing insolation. In this work we present results of the first three-dimensional numerical experiments of a water-rich planet orbiting a double star. We find that the periodic forcing of the atmosphere has a noticeable impact on the planet's climate. Signatures of the forcing frequencies related to the planet's as well as to the binary's orbital periods are present in a variety of climate indicators such as temperature and precipitation, making the interpretation of potential observables challenging. However, for Earth-like greenhouse gas concentrations, the variable forcing does not change the range of insolation values allowing for habitable climates substantially.

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The Resilience of Habitable Climates Around Circumbinary Stars

Wolf

Haqq-Misra²,

Kopparapu

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Here we use a 3-D climate system model to study the habitability of Earth-like planets orbiting in circumbinary systems. In the most extreme cases, Earth-like planets in circumbinary systems could experience variations in the incident stellar flux of up to~50% on~100-day timescales. However, we find that Earth-like planets, having abundant surface liquid water, are generally effective at buffering against these time-dependent changes in the stellar irradiation due to the high thermal inertia of oceans compared with the relatively short periods of circumbinary-driven variations in the received stellar flux. Ocean surface temperatures exhibit little to no variation in time; however, land surfaces can experience modest changes in temperature, thus exhibiting an additional mode of climate variability driven by the circumbinary variations. Still, meaningful oscillations in surface temperatures are only found for circumbinary system architectures featuring the largest physically possible amplitudes in the stellar flux variation. In the most extreme cases, an Earth-like planet could experience circumbinary-driven variations in the global mean land surface temperature of up to~5 K, and variations of local daytime maximum temperatures of up to~12 K on seasonal timescales, while the global mean ocean temperatures vary by less than~2 K. Such seasonal temperature swings over land areas could potentially pose adaptability challenges for extant life. Still, habitable planets in circumbinary systems appear to be remarkably resilient against circumbinary-driven climate variations and can avoid any true climate catastrophes.Plain Language Summary A circumbinary system is one where a planet orbits around two stars simultaneously, resulting in large and rapid changes to both the stellar energy distribution and the total stellar energy received by the planet. Planets in circumbinary systems can experience significant variations in their received stellar energy over~10-to~100-day timescales. However, habitable planets in circumbinary systems are highly effective at buffering these changes in the received stellar energy due to the large thermal inertia of the oceans. Ocean surface temperatures exhibit little to no variation in time; however, land surfaces can experience modest changes in temperature. Even for the most extreme variations in stellar flux possible for circumbinary systems, Earth-like planets could avoid a permanent climate catastrophe, such as a runaway greenhouse or glaciation.

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Examining Tatooine: Atmospheric Models of Neptune-Like Circumbinary Planets

Cited by 42 publications

References 33 publications

Constraining the Magnitude of Climate Extremes From Time‐Varying Instellation on a Circumbinary Terrestrial Planet

Constraining the Magnitude of Climate Extremes From Time‐Varying Instellation on a Circumbinary Terrestrial Planet

Climate variations on Earth-like circumbinary planets

The Resilience of Habitable Climates Around Circumbinary Stars

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