Clouds and Hazes in GJ 1214 b’s Metal-rich Atmosphere

Abstract

The sub-Neptune GJ 1214 b has an infamously flat transmission spectrum, likely due to thick aerosols in its atmosphere. A recent JWST/MIRI spectroscopic phase curve of GJ 1214 b added to this picture, suggesting a highly reflective and metal-rich atmosphere. Using a 3D general circulation model with both photochemical hazes and condensate clouds, we characterize how different aerosol types affect the atmospheric structure of GJ 1214 b and manifest in its spectroscopic phase curve. Additionally, we reanalyze the original GJ 1214 b JWST phase curve. The reanalysis shows a hotter nightside, similar dayside temperature, and a lower, but still elevated, Bond albedo (0.42 ± 0.11) in comparison to the original results. We find that a scenario with both clouds and hazes is most consistent with the JWST phase curve. Reflective clouds or hazes are needed to explain the large Bond albedo, and hazes or a supersolar metallicity help account for the several hundred kelvin day–night temperature difference measured by the phase curve.

Keywords

• Exoplanet astronomy
• Exoplanet atmospheres
• Exoplanet atmospheric composition
• Exoplanet atmospheric dynamics