Author(s): Lukas Hanson, University of Massachusetts Lowell (First Author, Presenting Author) Ofer Cohen, Harvard-Smithsonian CfA Aaron Ridley, Univ Michigan Alex Glocer, NASA/GSFC
It is of great interest to the scientific community to identify potentially habitable planets outside our solar system, but current observation capabilities are unable to make measurements precise enough to confirm habitability. To help fill the gap, we use 3D models that simulate upper atmospheres and study how they change when we vary the amount of energy is supplied to the planet from its host star. These models can help us identify which conditions are most important for sustaining habitable atmospheres, which can aid in future observation missions.