Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T04:21:41.455Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Evolutionary Exobiology II: investigating biological potential of synchronously-rotating worlds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2018

David S. Stevenson*
Affiliation:
Department of Science, Carlton le Willows Academy, Nottingham, UK
*
Author for correspondence: David S. Stevenson, E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Planets that orbit M-class dwarf stars in their habitable zones are expected to become tidally-locked in the first billion years of their history. Simulations of potentially habitable planets orbiting K and G-class stars also suggest that many will become tidally-locked or become pseudo-synchronous rotators in a similar time frame where certain criteria are fulfilled. Simple models suggest that such planets will experience climatic regions organized in broadly concentric bands around the sub-stellar point, where irradiation is maximal. Here, we develop some of the quantitative, as well as the qualitative impacts of such climate on the evolutionary potential of life on such worlds, incorporating the effects of topography and ocean currents on potential biological diversity. By comparing atmospheric circulation models with terrestrial circulation and biological diversity, we are able to construct viable thought models of biological potential. While we await the generation of atmospheric circulation models that incorporate topography and varying subaerial landscape, these models can be used as a starting point to determine the overall evolutionary potential of such worlds. The planets in these thought-models have significant differences in their distribution of habitability that may not be apparent from simple climate modelling.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Akter, N and Tsuboki, K (2017) Climatology of the pre-monsoon Indian dryline. International Journal of Climatology 37, 39913998.Google Scholar
Anglada-Escudé, G, Tuomi, M, Gerlach, E, Barnes, R, Heller, R, Jenkins, JS, Wende, S, Vogt, SS, Butler, RP, Reiners, A and Jones, HRA (2013) A dynamically-packed planetary system around GJ 667C with three super-Earths in its habitable zone. Available at https://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso1328/eso1328a.pdf.Google Scholar
Barthlott, W, Mutke, J, Rafiqpoor, MD, Kier, G and Kreft, H (2005) Global centres of vascular plant diversity. Nova Acta Leopoldina 92, 6183.Google Scholar
Basa, J (2007) Lee cyclogenesis. Seminar, University of Ljubljana. Available at http://mafija.fmf.uni-lj.si/seminar/files/2006_2007/Lee_cyclogenesis_-_Joze_Basa.pdf.Google Scholar
Blonder, B (2017) Hypervolume concepts in niche- and trait-based ecology. Ecography 40, 113.Google Scholar
Bonfils, X, Astudillo-Defru, N, Díaz, R, Almenara, J-M, Forveille, T, Bouchy, F, Delfosse, X, Lovis, C, Mayor, M, Murgas, F, Pepe, F, Santos, NC, Ségransan, D, Udry, S and Wünsche, A (2017) A temperate exo-Earth around a quiet M dwarf at 3.4 parsecs. Available at https://arxiv.org/abs/1711.06177.Google Scholar
Carone, L, Keppens, R and Decin, L (2015) Connecting the dots – II. Phase changes in the climate dynamics of tidally locked terrestrial exoplanets. MNRAS 453, 24122437.Google Scholar
Clift, PD, Hodges, KV, Heslop, D, Hannigan, R, Long, HV and Calves, G (2008) Correlation of Himalayan exhumation rates and Asian monsoon intensity. Nature Geoscience 1, 875880.Google Scholar
Clinton N, Jenkinsa, Stuart L, Pimmb and Lucas N, Joppac (2013) Global patterns of terrestrial vertebrate diversity and conservation. PNAS, E2602E2610, doi: www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1302251110.Google Scholar
Cullum, J, Stevens, D and Joshi, M (2014) The importance of planetary rotation period for ocean heat transport. Astrobiology 14, 645650.Google Scholar
Davis, CA and Emanuel, KA (1991) Potential vorticity: diagnostics of cyclogenesis. Monthly Weather Review 119, 19291953.Google Scholar
de Lavergne, C, Madec, G, Roquet, F, Holmes, RM and McDougall, TJ (2017) Abyssal ocean overturning shaped by seafloor distribution. Nature 551, 181186.Google Scholar
Dittmann, JA, Irwin, JM, Charbonneau, D, Bonfils, X, Astudillo-Defru, N, Haywood, RD, Berta-Thompson, ZK, Newton, ER, Rodriguez, JE, Winters, JG, Tan, T-G, Almenara, JM, Bouchy, F, Delfosse, X, Forveille, T, Lovis, C, Murgas, F, Pepe, F, Santos, NC, Udry, S, Wünsche, A, Esquerdo, GA, Latham, DW and Dressing, CD (2017) A temperate rocky super-Earth transiting a nearby cool star. Available at https://arxiv.org/abs/1704.05556.Google Scholar
Dupont-Nivet, G, Krijgsman, W, Langereis, CG, Abels, HA, Dai, S and Fang, X (2007) Tibetan plateau aridification linked to global cooling at the Eocene–Oligocene transition. Nature 445, 635638.Google Scholar
Edson, A, Lee, S, Bannon, P, Kasting, JF and Pollard, D (2011) Atmospheric circulations of terrestrial planets orbiting low-mass stars. Icarus 212, 113.Google Scholar
Edson, AR, Kasting, JF, Pollard, D, Lee, S and Bannon, PR (2012) The carbonate-silicate cycle and CO2/climate feedbacks on tidally locked terrestrial planets. Astrobiology 12, 562571.Google Scholar
Forget, F and Leconte, J (2013) Possible climates on terrestrial exoplanets. Available at https://arxiv.org/pdf/1311.3101.pdf.Google Scholar
Fritsch, M and Velasco, I (1987) Mesoscale convective complexes in the Americas. Journal of Geophysical Research 92, 95919613.Google Scholar
Gaston, KJ (2000) Global patterns in biodiversity. Nature 405, 220227.Google Scholar
Gatti, RC (2016) The fractal nature of the latitudinal biodiversity gradient. Biologia 71, 669672.Google Scholar
Geerts, B and Linacre, E (2017) Potential vorticity and isentropic charts. Available at http://www-das.uwyo.edu/~geerts/cwx/notes/chap12/pot_vort.html.Google Scholar
Gerbier, N, Koschmieder, H and Zierep, J (1960) Technical note No. 34 the airflow over mountains. Report of a working group of the Commission for Aerology prepared by P. Queney, Chairman – G.A. Corby. Edited and co-ordinated by M.A. Alara of the WMO Secretariat. Available at https://library.wmo.int/opac/doc_num.php?explnum_id=1734.Google Scholar
Gillman, LN, Wright, SD, Cusens, J, McBride, PD, Malhi, Y and Whittaker, RJ (2015) Latitude, productivity and species richness. Global Ecology and Biogeography 24, 107117.Google Scholar
Gillon, M, Triaud, AHMJ, Brice-Olivier, D, Emmanuël, J, Agol, E, Deck, KM, Lederer, SM, de Wit, JG, Burdanov, A, Ingalls, JG, Bolmont, E, Leconte, J, Raymond, SN, Selsis, F, Turbet, M, Barkaoui, K, Burgasser, A, Burleigh, MR, Carey, SJ, Chaushev, A, Copperwheat, CM, Delrez, L, Fernandes, CS, Holdsworth, DL, Kotze, EJ, Van Grootel, V, Almleaky, Y, Benkhaldoun, Z, Magain, P and ueloz, D (2017) Seven temperate terrestrial planets around the nearby ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1. Available at https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1703/1703.01424.pdf.Google Scholar
Haqq-Misra, J, Wolf, ET, Joshi, M, Zhang, X and Kopparapu, RK (2017) Demarcating circulation regimes of synchronously rotating terrestrial planets near the inner edge of the habitable zone. Available at https://arxiv.org/pdf/1710.00435.pdf.Google Scholar
Heath, MJ, Doyle, LR, Joshi, M and Haberle, RM (1999) Habitability of planets around red dwarf stars. Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere 29, 405424.Google Scholar
Hew, CS, Krotkov, G and Canvin, DT (1969) Effects of Temperature on Photosynthesis and CO2 Evolution in Light and Darkness by Green Leaves. Plant Physiol. 44, 671677.Google Scholar
Ifo, SA, Moutsambote, J-M, Koubouana, F, Yoka, J, Ndzai, SF, Nucia, L, Bouetou-Kadilamio, O, Mampouya, H, Jourdain, C, Bocko, , Mantota, YAB, Mouanga-Sokath, MMD, Odende, R, Mondzali, LR, Emmanue, Y, Wenina, M, Jenkins, CN, Pimmb, SL and Joppac, LN (2013) Global patterns of terrestrial vertebrate diversity and conservation. PNAS 110, E2602E2610.Google Scholar
Joshi, M (2004) Climate model studies of synchronously rotating planets. Astrobiology 3, 415427.Google Scholar
Kay, RF, Madden, RH, Van Schaik, C and Higdon, D (1997) Primate species richness is determined by plant productivity: implications for conservation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 94, 1302313027.Google Scholar
Kiera, G, Krefta, H, Leeb, TM, Jetzb, W, Ibischc, PL, Nowickic, C, Mutkea, J and Barthlotta, W (2009) A global assessment of endemism and species richness across island and mainland regions. PNAS 106, 93229327.Google Scholar
Kite, ES, Manga, M and Gaidos, E (2009) Geodynamics and rate of volcanism on massive earth-like planets. The Astrophysical Journal 700, 17321749.Google Scholar
Kopparapu, RK, Wolf, ET, Haqq-Misra, J, Yang, J, Kasting, JF, Meadows, V, Terrien, R and Mahadeva, S (2016) The inner edge of the habitable zone for synchronously rotating planets around low-mass stars using general circulation models. The Astrophysical Journal 819, 84.Google Scholar
Kopparapu, RK, Wolf, ET, Arney, G, Batalha, NE, Haqq-Misra, J, Grimm, SL and Heng, K (2017) Habitable moist atmospheres on terrestrial planets near the inner edge of the habitable zone around M Dwarfs. The Astrophysical Journal 845, Available at https://arxiv.org/pdf/1705.10362.pdf.Google Scholar
Lebauer, DS and Treseder, KK (2008) Nitrogen limitation of net primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems is globally distributed. Ecology 89, 371379.Google Scholar
Leconte, J, Forget, F, Charnay, B, Wordsworth, R, Selsis, F, Millour, E and Spiga, A (2013) 3D climate modeling of close-in land planets: circulation patterns, climate moist bistability, and habitability. Astronomy & Astrophysics 554, A69.Google Scholar
Licht, A, Cappelle, M, Abels, HA, Ladant, JB, Trabucho-Alexandre, J, France-Lanord, C, Donnadieu, Y, Vandenberghe, J, Rigaudier, T, Lécuyer, C, Terry, D Jr, Adriaens, R, Boura, A, Guo, Z, Soe, AN, Quade, J, Dupont-Nivet, G and Jaeger, J-J (2014) Asian monsoons in a late Eocene greenhouse world. Nature 513, 501506.Google Scholar
Loeb, A, Batista, RA and Sloan, D (2016) Relative likelihood for life as a function of cosmic time. Available at http://arxiv.org/pdf/1606.08448v2.pdf.Google Scholar
Luetscher, M, Boch, R, Sodemann, H, Spötl, C, Cheng, H, Edwards, RL, Frisia, S, Hof, F and Müller, W (2015) North Atlantic storm track changes during the Last Glacial Maximum recorded by Alpine speleothems. Nature Communications 6, 16.Google Scholar
Luger, R and Barnes, R (2015). Extreme water loss and abiotic O2 buildup on planets throughout the habitable zones of M Dwarfs. Astrobiology 15, 119143.Google Scholar
McTier, MAS and Kipping, DM (2018) Finding Mountains with Molehills: The Detectability of Exotopography. Available at https://arxiv.org/pdf/1801.05814.pdf.Google Scholar
Merlis, TM and Schneider, T (2010) Atmospheric dynamics of Earth-like tidally locked aquaplanets. Available at https://arxiv.org/pdf/1001.5117.pdf.Google Scholar
Messager, C, Parker, DJ, Agusti-Panareda, ORA, Taylore, CM and Cuesta, J (2010) Structure and dynamics of the Saharan atmospheric boundary layer during the West African monsoon onset: observations and analyses from the research flights of 14 and 17 July 2006. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 136(Suppl. 1), 107124.Google Scholar
Nguyen, H, Thorncroft, CD and Zhang, C (2011) Guinean coastal rainfall of the West African Monsoon. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 137, 18281840.Google Scholar
O'Neill, C, Lenardic, A, Weller, M, Moresi, L, Quenette, S and Zhang, S (2016) A window for plate tectonics in terrestrial planet evolution? Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 255, 8092.Google Scholar
Penn, J and Vallis, GK (2012) The thermal phase curve offset on tidally- and non-tidally-locked exoplanets: a shallow water model. The Astrophysical Journal 842, 2. Available at https://arxiv.org/pdf/1704.06813.pdf.Google Scholar
Proença, V, Martin, LJ, Pereira, HM, Fernandez, M, McRae, L, Belnap, J, Böhm, M, Brummitt, N, García-Moreno, J, Gregory, RD, Honrado, JP, Jürgens, N, Opige, M, Schmeller, DS, Tiago, P and van Swaay, CAM (2017) Global biodiversity monitoring: from data sources to essential biodiversity variables. Biological Conservation 213, 256263.Google Scholar
Rains, JL, Marsaglia, KM and Dunne, GC (2012) Stratigraphic record of subduction initiation in the Permian metasedimentary succession of the El Paso Mountains, California. Lithosphere 4, 533552.Google Scholar
Ribas, I, Bolmont, E, Selsis, F, Reiners, A, Leconte, J, Raymond, SN, Engle, SG, Guinan, EF, Morin, J, Turbet, M, Forget, F, and Velasco, G and Anglada-Escudé, G (2016) The habitability of Proxima Centauri b I. Irradiation, rotation and volatile inventory from formation to the present. Astronomy & Astrophysics 596, A111.Google Scholar
Ricklefs, RE and Heb, F (2016) Region effects influence local tree species diversity. PNAS 113, 674679.Google Scholar
Rosenzweig, ML (1968) Net primary productivity of terrestrial communities: prediction from climatological data. The American Naturalist 102, 6774.Google Scholar
Schaefer, L and Sasselov, D (2015) The persistence of oceans on earth-like planets: insights from the deep-water cycle. The Astrophysical Journal 801, 4052. doi: 10.1088/0004-637X/801/1/40. Available at https://arxiv.org/pdf/1501.00735.pdf.Google Scholar
Scotese, C, Bice, K, Seidov, D and Barron, EJ (2002) Quantifying the role of geographic change in Cenozoic ocean heat transport using uncoupled atmosphere and ocean models. Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, and Paleoecology 161, 295310.Google Scholar
Scotese, CR (2009) Late proterozoic plate tectonics and palaeogeography: a tale of two supercontinents, Rodinia and Pannotia. In Craig, J, Thurow, J, Thusu, B, Whitham, A and Abutarruma, Y (eds), Global Neoproterozoic Petroleum Systems: The Emerging Potential in North Africa pp. 6783.Google Scholar
Šímová, I, Violle, C, Kraft, NJB, Storch, D, Svenning, JC, Boyle, B, Donoghue, JC II, Jørgensen, P, McGill, BJ, Morueta-Holme, N, Piel, WH, Peet, RK, Regetz, J, Schildhauer, M, Spencer, N, Thiers, B, Wiser, S and Enquist, BJ (2015) Shifts in trait means and variances in North American tree assemblages: species richness patterns are loosely related to the functional space. Ecography 38, 649658.Google Scholar
Stevenson, DS and Large, S (2017) Evolutionary exobiology: towards the qualitative assessment of biological potential on exoplanets. International Journal of Astrobiology 16, 15.Google Scholar
Tafferner, A (1990) Lee cyclogenesis resulting from the combined outbreak of cold air and potential vorticity against the Alps. Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics 43, 3147Google Scholar
Turbet, M, Leconte, J, Selsis, F, Bolmont, E, Forget, F, Ribas, I, Raymond, SN and Anglada-Escudé, G (2016) The habitability of Proxima Centauri b. II. Possible climates and Observability. Astronomy & Astrophysics 596, A112.Google Scholar
Vanneste, J (1990) Rossby wave frequency change induced by small-scale topography. Journal of Physical Oceanography 30, 18201826.Google Scholar
Walker, GT (1923) Correlation in seasonal variations of weather, VIII. A preliminary study of world weather. Memoirs of the India Meteorological Department 24, 75131.Google Scholar
Wheatley, PJ, Louden, T, Bourrier, V, Ehrenreich, D and Gillon, M (2016) Strong XUV irradiation of the Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting the ultracool dwarf TRAPPIST-1. Available at https://arxiv.org/pdf/1605.01564v1.pdf.Google Scholar
Wilson, D and Cooper, JP (1969) Effect of light intensity and CO2 on apparent photosynthesis and its relationship with leaf anatomy in genotypes of Lolium Perenne L. New Phytol. 68, 627644.Google Scholar
Wolf, ET (2017) Assessing the habitability of the TRAPPIST-1 system using a 3D climate model. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 839, L1, 16. Available at http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/aa693a/pdf.Google Scholar
Wolf, ET, Shields, AL, Kopparapu, RK, Haqq-Misra, J and Toon, OB (2017) Constraints on climate and habitability for earth-like exoplanets determined from a general circulation model. The Astrophysical Journal 837, 107117. Available at http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aa5ffc/pdf.Google Scholar
Xiong Jian-gang, XJ, Fan, Y and Jun, L (1994) The influence of topography on the nonlinear interaction of Rossby waves in the barotropic atmosphere. Applied Mathematics and Mechanics 15, 585594Google Scholar
Zelle, H, Appeldoorn, G, Burgers, G and van Oldenborgh, GJ (2004) Relationship between sea surface temperature and thermocline depth in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific. Journal of Physical Oceanography. American Meteorological Society 34, 643.Google Scholar
Zhisheng, A, Kutzbach, JE, Prell, WL and Porter, SC (2001) Evolution of Asian monsoons and phased uplift of the Himalaya-Tibetan plateau since Late Miocene times. Nature 411, 6266.Google Scholar