Measuring the abundances of carbon and oxygen in exoplanet atmospheres is considered a crucial avenue for unlocking the formation and evolution of exoplanetary systems.
Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Early Release Science Of The Exoplanet WASP-39b With JWST NIRCam
Measuring the metallicity and carbon-to-oxygen (C/O) ratio in exoplanet atmospheres is a fundamental step towards constraining the dominant chemical processes at work and, if in equilibrium, revealing planet formation histories.
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release
Rocky Histories: The Effect Of High Excitations On The Formation Of Rocky Planets
Rocky planets both in and outside of our solar system are observed to have a range of core-mass fractions (CMFs).
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Venus
Recovery of Phosphine In Venus’ Atmosphere From SOFIA Observations
Searches for phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere have sparked a debate. Cordiner et al. 2022 analyse spectra from the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and infer <0.8 ppb of PH3.
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Land Fraction Diversity On Earth-like Planets And Implications For Their Habitability
A balanced ratio of ocean to land is believed to be essential for an Earth-like biosphere and one may conjecture that plate-tectonics planets should be similar in geological properties.
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Press Release
Serpentine Rocks Provide Evidence Of Fossil Life On Earth
In the Hajar Mountains of Oman is a large slab of oceanic crust consisting of serpentinized ultramafic rocks, the largest exposure of such rocks on Earth’s surface. These distinctive rocks […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Press Release, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Tricorder Tech: The Tiniest Ever Ancient Seawater Pockets Ever Revealed
Trapped for millennia, the tiniest liquid remnants of an ancient inland sea have now been revealed.
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Mars Was Covered By 300 Meter Deep Oceans
Mars is called the red planet. But once, it was actually blue and covered in water, bringing us closer to finding out if Mars had ever harboured life.
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release
Earth-sun Distance Dramatically Alters Seasons In The Equatorial Pacific In A 22,000-year Cycle
Weather and climate modelers understand pretty well how seasonal winds and ocean currents affect El Niño patterns in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, impacting weather across the United States and […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Icy Worlds, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Status Report
Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 11 November 2022: Lake Sampling And GNSS Measurements At Lake Untersee
Yesterday was quite productive at Lake Untersee. We were able to recover a 50 cm sediment core from the deepest region of the south basin (102 m) which is also […]