2016/08/25 by Colin Goldblatt, Goldblatt, Colin
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph) #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1608.07263
openalex publication_date 2016/08/25 · openalex created_date 2022/10/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Proxima Centauri b, an Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of our nearest\nstellar neighbour, has just been discovered. A theoretical framework of\nsynchronously rotating planets, in which the risk of a runaway greenhouse on\nthe sunlight side and atmospheric collapse on the reverse side are mutually\nameliorated via heat transport is discussed. This is developed via simple\n(tutorial) models of the climate. These show that lower incident stellar flux\nmeans that less heat transport, so less atmospheric mass, is required. The\nincident stellar flux at Proxima Centauri b is indeed low, which may help\nenhance habitability if it has suffered some atmospheric loss or began with a\nlow volatile inventory.\n