Characterizing the Radiative-Convective Structure of Dense Rocky Planet Atmospheres

Abstract

We use a one-dimensional line-by-line radiative-convective model to simulate hot, dense terrestrial-planet atmospheres. We find that strong shortwave absorption by H2O and CO2 inhibits near-surface convection, reducing surface temperatures by up to approximately 2000 K compared to fully convective predictions. Pure CO2 atmospheres are typically 1000 K cooler than pure H2O atmospheres, with only a few percent of H2O needed to elevate surface temperatures by hundreds of kelvin for a fixed incident stellar radiation. We also show that minor greenhouse gases such as SO2 and NH3 have a limited warming effect when H2O is abundant. Even at insolation values as high as 12,500 W/m2 (about 37 times Earth's current solar flux), planets with mixed CO2-H2O envelopes have surface temperatures in the 1200 to 2000 K range, limiting surface melting. Our results highlight the critical role of shortwave heating on magma ocean planets and the need for improved high-temperature spectroscopy beyond 20,000 cm-1.