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Project Progress

We studied the impact of a large flare from the M dwarf, AD Leonis (AD Leo), on the atmospheric chemistry of a hypothetical, Earth-like planet located within its habitable zone. The AD Leo flare of 1985 April 12 emitted a total energy of ~10^34 ergs. The simulations were performed using a 1-D photochemical model coupled to a 1-D radiative/convective model. Our results indicate that the ultraviolet radiation emitted during the flare does not produce a significant change in the ozone column depth or the UV flux reaching the surface of the planet, and so such flares may not present a direct hazard for life on the surface of an orbiting habitable planet. Given that AD Leo is one of the most magnetically active M dwarfs known, this conclusion should apply to planets around other M dwarfs with lower chromospheric activity (Walkowicz et al., 2009; Segura et al., 2009)

We have explored how tidal effects can alter the surface properties of planets. We considered the specific case of HD 40307 and showed which regions of observationally-permitted parameter space led to tidal heating rates larger than on Io on HD 40307 b. We also considered the range of tidal heating that is possible in the habitable zones of low-mass stars. We proposed that one may make a second cut on planetary habitability based in the level of tidal heating: The heat flux must be less than that on Io, and more than the minimum for plate tectonics (Barnes et al., 2009)

We also explored the statistical probability of detrimental effects on habitability due to astrospheric collapse for stars of different mass (Smith & Scalo, 2009) An “astrosphere” is the plasma cocoon carved out of the interstellar medium by a stellar wind. In dense interstellar clouds, the resulting pressure can collapse the astrosphere, resulting in exposure of the habitable zone to enhanced amounts of cosmic ray flux, dust and gas. We find that ISM encounters resulting in astrosphere collapse are unlikely to occur for K and M stars, but could be as frequent at 1-10 every billion years for solar mass stars or larger.