According to reports, at present, astronomers have analyzed the distant terrestrial planet TRAPPIST-1e and established a new framework for extrasolar planets, which will help scientists determine whether there are planets suitable for life or human habitation outside the solar system.
TRAPPIST-1e is one of seven planets in the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system, which orbits a low-temperature M dwarf star 39 light-years from Earth. In fact, all of these exoplanets are thought to be rocky or Earth-sized Terrestrial planets, making the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system an important focal point in the search for extraterrestrial life.
In the coming year, the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system and the TRAPPIST-1e planet will be the focus of research for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and TRAPPIST-1e is also considered to be the most likely habitable exoplanet discovered to date. one of the planets.
The latest study used computer simulations of the climate of TRAPPIST-1e, a planet similar in size to Earth but 40 percent less massive, in the host star’s habitable zone, where temperatures are suitable for liquid water to exist.
The researchers looked at TRAPPIST-1e’s simulated climate response, specifically the effect of carbon dioxide on extreme weather conditions and the rate of weather change, and then compared TRAPPIST-1e to Earth. Professor Assaf Hochman of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, who led the study, said that these two variables are crucial for the existence of life on other planets, and scientists are currently conducting the most in-depth study ever.
Hodgman and colleagues found that TRAPPIST-1e’s atmosphere is significantly more sensitive to greenhouse gases than Earth’s, meaning that increases in greenhouse gases in TRAPPIST-1e’s atmosphere could lead to more extreme climate changes than Earth’s.
The sensitivity of TRAPPIST-1e to the greenhouse climate may be due to the tidal locking effect of the planet and the host star, which means that one side of the exoplanet is always facing the host star, and the “day side” is constantly bombarded by space radiation, which is consistent with the Earth. The rotation around the sun is different.
Hodgman concluded that the exoplanet framework we designed and the JWST observation data will help scientists to effectively assess the state of the planet’s atmosphere without having to send astronauts to visit the planet, and the planetary framework will help us make informed decisions in the future. decisions, determine which planets are habitable for humans, and even potentially find signs of life on those planets.
He and his research colleagues believe that observing the climate conditions of terrestrial exoplanets like TRAPPIST-1e will help us better understand the climate change currently happening on Earth. In addition, the study of these conditions can help scientists better A good understanding of how Earth’s atmosphere will change in the future is now reported in the Astrophysical Journal.
