Abstract
Rocky planets likely begin with global magma oceans that exchange gases with their atmospheres; we model this stage by coupling chemical reactions, gas dissolution in molten rock, and condensation processes. We find that early atmospheres are often rich in CO but evolve into dense CO2-rich atmospheres as planets cool, similar to present-day Venus. For some planets, the conditions after the magma-ocean stage may allow liquid water and other condensates to coexist at the surface, helping interpret observations of exoplanet atmospheres and assess whether potentially habitable environments could emerge.
Due to its proximity to its parent star,the temperatures on the surface of the planet are thought to reach about 2000 degrees Celsius. Scientists were able to analyze the atmosphere of 55 Cancri e. It was the first time this was possible for a super-Earth exoplanet.
© ESA/Hubble, M. KornmesserSpeaker
© Alessandro Della Bella
Dr. Daniel Bower
Senior Scientist
Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology
Experimental Planetology Group
ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Research Interests:
planetary science | geochemistry | geophysics | exoplanets | geodynamics