Increased insolation threshold for runaway greenhouse processes on Earth-like planets

Nature
Jérémy LeconteAlizée Pottier

Abstract

The increase in solar luminosity over geological timescales should warm the Earth's climate, increasing water evaporation, which will in turn enhance the atmospheric greenhouse effect. Above a certain critical insolation, this destabilizing greenhouse feedback can 'run away' until the oceans have completely evaporated. Through increases in stratospheric humidity, warming may also cause evaporative loss of the oceans to space before the runaway greenhouse state occurs. The critical insolation thresholds for these processes, however, remain uncertain because they have so far been evaluated using one-dimensional models that cannot account for the dynamical and cloud feedback effects that are key stabilizing features of the Earth's climate. Here we use a three-dimensional global climate model to show that the insolation threshold for the runaway greenhouse state to occur is about 375 W m(-2), which is significantly higher than previously thought. Our model is specifically developed to quantify the climate response of Earth-like planets to increased insolation in hot and extremely moist atmospheres. In contrast with previous studies, we find that clouds have a destabilizing feedback effect on the long-term warming. However, subsiden...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1993·Icarus·J F KastingR T Reynolds
Jun 29, 2011·Astrobiology·Yutaka AbeKevin J Zahnle
Aug 8, 2012·Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences·Colin Goldblatt, Andrew J Watson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 26, 2014·Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences·F Forget, J Leconte
Jul 26, 2014·Astrobiology·Ramses M RamirezJames F Kasting
Jan 21, 2016·Astrobiology·Aditya Chopra, Charles H Lineweaver
Jul 21, 2016·Proceedings. Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences·Raymond T Pierrehumbert, Feng Ding
Apr 7, 2017·Nature Communications·Max Popp, Siegfried Eggl
Apr 27, 2017·Astrobiology·Victoria S Meadows
Dec 18, 2013·Nature·James F Kasting, Chester E Harman
Jan 7, 2017·Space Science Reviews·Nikku MadhusudhanYongyun Hu
Feb 10, 2016·Nature Communications·Max PoppJochem Marotzke
Apr 24, 2015·Nature·Jeff Tollefson
Jan 15, 2019·The Astrophysical Journal·Stephen R KaneElisa V Quintana
May 5, 2018·Astrobiology·Edward W SchwietermanTimothy W Lyons
Feb 23, 2019·Astrobiology·F J BallesterosV J Martínez
May 6, 2020·Scientific Reports·Ramses M Ramirez
Jun 3, 2020·Nature Communications·Boris SautereyRégis Ferrière
Jun 26, 2018·Astrobiology·Yuka FujiiKevin B Stevenson
Jul 23, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Natalie M Batalha
Apr 6, 2019·The Astrophysical Journal. Supplement Series·M J WayNancy Y Kiang
Jun 11, 2020·Nature Communications·Ian A BoutleKrisztian Kohary
Oct 20, 2018·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Nadir Jeevanjee, David M Romps
Oct 17, 2020·Proceedings. Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences·Samuel KonathamMaria-Paz Zorzano
Oct 27, 2020·The Astrophysical Journal·Anthony D Del GenioMaxwell Kelley

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.