English

TRAPPIST-1 d: Exo-Venus, Exo-Earth or Exo-Dead?

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics 2025-02-04 v1

Abstract

TRAPPIST-1 d is generally assumed to be at the boundary between a Venus-like world and an Earth-like world, although recently published works on TRAPPIST-1 b and c raise concerns that TRAPPIST-1 d may be similarly devoid of a substantial atmosphere. TRAPPIST-1 d is also relatively understudied in comparison with TRAPPIST-1 e. The latter has generally appeared to be within the habitable zone of most atmospheric modeling studies. Assuming that TRAPPIST-1 d still retains a substantial atmosphere, we demonstrate via a series of 3D general circulation model experiments using a dynamic ocean that the planet could reside within the habitable zone in a narrow parameter space. At the same time, it could also be an exo-Venus or exo-Dead-type world or in transition between between one of these. Studies like this can help distinguish between these types of worlds.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2502.00132,
  title  = {TRAPPIST-1 d: Exo-Venus, Exo-Earth or Exo-Dead?},
  author = {M. J. Way},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2502.00132},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

17 pages, 5 Figures, Accepted ApJ Letters