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Liquid water on cold exo-Earths via basal melting of ice sheets

Author

Listed:
  • Lujendra Ojha

    (Rutgers University)

  • Bryce Troncone

    (Rutgers University)

  • Jacob Buffo

    (Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College)

  • Baptiste Journaux

    (University of Washington)

  • George McDonald

    (University of Oregon)

Abstract

Liquid water is a critical component of habitability. However, the production and stability of surficial liquid water can be challenging on planets outside the Habitable Zone and devoid of adequate greenhouse warming. On such cold, icy exo-Earths, basal melting of regional/global ice sheets by geothermal heat provides an alternative means of forming liquid water. Here, we model the thermophysical evolution of ice sheets to ascertain the geophysical conditions that allow liquid water to be produced and maintained at temperatures above the pressure-controlled freezing point of water ice on exo-Earths. We show that even with a modest, Moon-like geothermal heat flow, subglacial oceans of liquid water can form at the base of and within the ice sheets on exo-Earths. Furthermore, subglacial oceans may persist on exo-Earths for a prolonged period due to the billion-year half-lives of heat-producing elements responsible for geothermal heat. These subglacial oceans, often in contact with the planet’s crust and shielded from the high energy radiation of their parent star by thick ice layers, may provide habitable conditions for an extended period.

Suggested Citation

  • Lujendra Ojha & Bryce Troncone & Jacob Buffo & Baptiste Journaux & George McDonald, 2022. "Liquid water on cold exo-Earths via basal melting of ice sheets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-35187-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35187-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sebastian E. Lauro & Elena Pettinelli & Graziella Caprarelli & Jamaledin Baniamerian & Elisabetta Mattei & Barbara Cosciotti & David E. Stillman & Katherine M. Primm & Francesco Soldovieri & Roberto O, 2022. "Using MARSIS signal attenuation to assess the presence of South Polar Layered Deposit subglacial brines," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. J. S. Bowling & S. J. Livingstone & A. J. Sole & W. Chu, 2019. "Distribution and dynamics of Greenland subglacial lakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Jason A. Dittmann & Jonathan M. Irwin & David Charbonneau & Xavier Bonfils & Nicola Astudillo-Defru & Raphaëlle D. Haywood & Zachory K. Berta-Thompson & Elisabeth R. Newton & Joseph E. Rodriguez & Jen, 2017. "A temperate rocky super-Earth transiting a nearby cool star," Nature, Nature, vol. 544(7650), pages 333-336, April.
    4. Baptiste Journaux, 2022. "Salty ice and the dilemma of ocean exoplanet habitability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-4, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Amri Wandel, 2023. "Habitability and sub glacial liquid water on planets of M-dwarf stars," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-4, December.

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