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Abstract:

The earliest atmospheres of rocky planets originate from extensive volatile release during magma ocean epochs that occur during assembly of the planet. These establish the initial distribution of the major volatile elements between different chemical reservoirs that subsequently evolve via geological cycles. Current theoretical techniques are limited in exploring the anticipated range of compositional and thermal scenarios of early planetary evolution, even though these are of prime importance to aid astronomical inferences on the environmental context and geological history of extrasolar planets. Here, we present a coupled numerical framework that links an evolutionary, vertically‐resolved model of the planetary silicate mantle with a radiative‐convective model of the atmosphere. Using this method we investigate the early evolution of idealized Earth‐sized rocky planets with end‐member, clear‐sky atmospheres dominated by either H2, H2O, CO2, CH4, CO, O2, or N2. We find central metrics of early planetary evolution, such as energy gradient, sequence of mantle solidification, surface pressure, or vertical stratification of the atmosphere, to be intimately controlled by the dominant volatile and outgassing history of the planet. Thermal sequences fall into three general classes with increasing cooling timescale: CO, N2, and O2 with minimal effect, H2O, CO2, and CH4 with intermediate influence, and H2 with several orders of magnitude increase in solidification time and atmosphere vertical stratification. Our numerical experiments exemplify the capabilities of the presented modeling framework and link the interior and atmospheric evolution of rocky exoplanets with multi‐wavelength astronomical observations.

Abstract:

Strong rivers of westerly winds, known as jet streams, are driven primarily by temperature differences between low and high latitudes as well as the rotation of the Earth. The jet streams create and impact weather systems and steer them in the midlatitudes of both hemispheres. Often, these jet streams do not flow directly from west to east, but rather meander north and south in a wave pattern of alternating high- and low-pressure regions. These meanders are Rossby waves, which influence the jet streams via baroclinic instability caused by temperature gradients. Depending on their wavelength, latitude, and the background wind speed, these waves can move to the east or to the west and under certain conditions also be (quasi)stationary. Jet streams can locally increase the gradient of vorticity (atmospheric spin), so that atmospheric wave guides may be formed. These waveguides affect the propagation pathways of Rossby waves, often leading to more zonal propagation, and potentially amplification of waves. Rossby waves, jets, and waveguides affect atmospheric eddies, such as anticyclonic blocks, and can create prolonged weather conditions that lead to extreme weather impacts.

Abstract: