IvS Seminar: Manuel Scherf (17/10/2024)

Manuel Scherf - "The evolution and prevalence of Earth-like Habitats in the Galaxy" (IvS seminar 17/11/2024)
Abstract: The existence of Earth-like Habitats, i.e., temperate rocky exoplanets hosting Earth-like N2-O2-dominated atmospheres with minor amounts of CO2, depends on certain astrophysical, geophysical, and, potentially, biochemical criteria that must be met to allow for their evolution and environmental stability. One essential factor for the emergence and evolution of Earth-like atmospheres is a planet's host star. Its radiation and plasma environment may affect atmospheric stability to such an extent that it can even render its existence unlikely. Furthermore, microbial life may be another parameter needed to allow for the simultaneous existence of atmospheric O2 and N2 over geological timescales, making an N2-O2-dominated atmosphere with minor amounts of CO2 a potential sign of life to be present on such a planet. I will address these and further important parameters relevant to the evolution of Earth-like atmospheres. First, I focus on the terrestrial planets in our Solar System and then apply our understanding of their atmospheric evolution to assess the prevalence of Earth-like Habitats in the Galaxy and around stars of different spectral types.