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arXiv · 1609.07106

Gravity-Darkened Seasons: Insolation Around Rapid Rotators

John P. Ahlers
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Abstract

I model the effect of rapid stellar rotation on a planet's insolation. Fast-rotating stars have induced pole-to-equator temperature gradients (known as gravity-darkening) of up to several thousand Kelvin that affect the star's luminosity and peak emission wavelength as a function of latitude. When orbiting such a star, a planet's annual insolation can strongly vary depending on its orbit inclination. Specifically, inclined orbits result in temporary exposure to the star's hotter poles. I find that gravity-darkening can drive changes in a planet's equilibrium temperature of up to $\sim15\%$ due to increased irradiance near the stellar poles. This effect can also vary a planet's exposure to UV radiation by up to $\sim80\%$ throughout its orbit as it is exposed to an irradiance spectrum corresponding to different stellar effective temperatures over time.

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John P. Ahlers. 2016-09-22. Gravity-Darkened Seasons: Insolation Around Rapid Rotators. https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637x%2F832%2F1%2F93

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