初期地球や太陽系外惑星の大気モデルを改善する新たなアプローチを開発(New approach improves models of atmosphere on early Earth, exo-planets)

ad

2024-11-18 ペンシルベニア州立大学(PennState)

ペンシルベニア州立大学の研究チームは、初期の地球や地球型の系外惑星の大気モデルを改良するため、統計手法「コレレーテッド-k法」を用いた新しいアプローチを開発しました。この手法により、紫外線吸収や散乱の計算精度が向上し、特に低酸素環境下での大気化学反応の理解が深まります。このモデルは、将来の観測データ解析や生命探査におけるバイオシグネチャーの検出に貢献することが期待されています。

<関連情報>

シューマン-ルンゲバンドにおけるO2光分解の相関Kパラメタリゼーション A Correlated-K Parameterization for O2 Photolysis in the Schumann-Runge Bands

Aoshuang Ji, Orlando G. Tomazzeli, Gustavo G. Palancar, Guillaume Chaverot, Mackenzie Barker, Rafael P. Fernández, Kenneth Minschwaner, James F. Kasting
Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres  Published: 09 May 2024
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD040610

初期地球や太陽系外惑星の大気モデルを改善する新たなアプローチを開発(New approach improves models of atmosphere on early Earth, exo-planets)

Abstract

A recent study comparing ozone column depths and methane lifetimes at varied atmospheric O2 (pO2) levels calculated in the Kasting-group 1-D photochemical model and the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model version 6 (WACCM6) 3-D model (Ji, Kasting, et al., 2023; https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230056) has exposed weaknesses in both models in parameterizing photolysis in the O2 Schumann-Runge bands, 175–205 nm. WACCM6 does a good job for Earth’s present atmosphere but neglects scattering, which becomes important at low pO2. The 1-D model includes scattering but is based on an out-of-date band model, and it neglects the temperature dependence of photolysis at low pO2. We have revised and improved the 1-D photochemical model by replacing the old O2 photolysis algorithm with a new correlated-k parameterization, which improves accuracy for all O2 levels and all temperature profiles. The WACCM6 parameterization was also included in the 1-D model for comparative purposes. The correlated-k and WACCM6 photolysis algorithms agree well for both the present atmosphere and for an atmosphere containing 10−3 times the present O2 level, but only if multiple scattering is included at low pO2. The correlated-k parameterization will be made available to photochemical modeling groups who might choose to adopt it.

Key Points

  • To parameterize O2 absorption, we generated a correlated-k table based on detailed line-by-line calculations at 150, 200, 250, and 300 K
  • The new parameterization matches laboratory measurements and is well suited to include scattering at lower O2 levels
  • Early earth photochemical models based on the old exponential sum fits should consider the new correlated-k to achieve more accurate results

Plain Language Summary

In today’s atmosphere, the absorption of incoming ultraviolet radiation by O2 plays a decisive role in creating O atoms that can react to form ozone (O3), as well as shielding other gases from photolysis. However, this absorption is difficult to parameterize in atmospheric models due to its complex structure at wavelengths of 175–205 nm, which we call the Schumann-Runge bands. Good models for SR absorption in today’s atmosphere already exist, but not all of them may be suitable for use in low-O2 atmospheres in which multiple scattering is important. Here, we develop a new parameterization for SR absorption by employing a “correlated-k” approach that has been widely used in climate models at both visible and infrared wavelengths. This approach accounts for the strong temperature dependence of the absorption and agrees well with existing models of O2 absorption in the present atmosphere. It should also be useful in simulations of low-O2 atmospheres on early Earth, for which scattering must be included, as well as for atmospheres of putative Earth-like exoplanets that astronomers hope to identify over the next several decades.

1701物理及び化学
ad
ad
Follow
ad
タイトルとURLをコピーしました