The Moist Greenhouse is Sensitive to Stratospheric Temperature
arXiv:1801.04007 · doi:10.3847/2515-5172/aaa5a7
Abstract
In this Research Note, I use my single-column climate model to explicitly show that the moist greenhouse surface temperature threshold is sensitive to stratospheric temperature. I argue that this explains most of the discrepancy between 1-D and recent 3-D computations of the moist greenhouse threshold for M-star planets given that calculated stratospheric (and upper atmospheric) temperatures are higher than what are usually assumed in 1-D calculations. I suggest that collaborations between the two sets of modelers would lead to greater understanding of the moist greenhouse threshold. I also discuss implications for habitability if high stratospheric temperatures are a common feature on M-star planets near the inner edge.
Published in the Research Notes of the AAS (4 pages, 1 figure)