Reduced Water Loss due to Photochemistry on Terrestrial Planets in the Runaway Greenhouse Phase around Pre-main-sequence M Dwarfs

Abstract

Terrestrial planets currently in the habitable zone around M dwarfs are estimated to have been in runaway greenhouse conditions for up to ∼1 Gyr due to the long-term pre-main-sequence phase of M dwarfs. These planets likely lose a significant portion of water during the pre-main-sequence phase owing to H _2 O photolysis followed by hydrogen and oxygen loss to space. However, the effects of H _2 O reproduction reactions and UV shielding by chemical products that reduce photolysis-induced water loss have yet to be estimated. Here, we apply a 1D photochemical model to a H _2 O-dominated atmosphere of an Earth-like planet around a pre-main-sequence M dwarf to estimate these effects. We find that water loss is suppressed by efficient H _2 O reproduction reactions and by UV shielding due to O _2 . The water loss rate decreases by several to several hundred times compared to that in previous studies, with the assumption that the water loss rate is limited by stellar X-ray and extreme-ultraviolet flux or hydrogen diffusion through the atmosphere. Our results imply that terrestrial planets currently in the habitable zone around M dwarfs are more likely to retain surface water than previously estimated.

Keywords

• Exoplanet atmospheric evolution
• Exoplanet atmospheres
• Exoplanet evolution
• Habitable planets
• Planetary atmospheres
• Planetary science