Assessing the Habitability of the TRAPPIST-1 System Using a 3D Climate Model

Abstract

The TRAPPIST-1 system provides an extraordinary opportunity to study multiple terrestrial extrasolar planets and their atmospheres. Here, we use the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Atmosphere Model version 4 to study the possible climate and habitability of the planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system. We assume the worlds are ocean-covered, with atmospheres composed of N 2, CO 2, and H 2 O, and with orbital and geophysical properties defined from observation. Model results indicate that the inner three planets (b, c, and d) presently reside interior to the inner edge of the traditional liquid water habitable zone. Thus, if water ever existed on the inner planets, they would have undergone a runaway greenhouse and lost their water to space, leaving them dry today. Conversely, the outer three planets (f, g, and h) fall beyond the maximum CO 2 greenhouse outer edge of the habitable zone. Model results indicate that the outer planets cannot be warmed, despite having as much as 30 bar CO 2 atmospheres, instead entering a snowball state. The middle planet (e) represents the best chance for a presently habitable ocean-covered world in the TRAPPIST-1 system. Planet e can maintain at least some habitable surface area with 0–2 bar CO 2, depending on the background N 2 content. Near-present-day Earth surface temperatures can be maintained for an ocean-covered planet e with either 1 bar N 2 + 0.4 bar CO 2, or a 1.3 bar pure CO 2 atmosphere.