LIFESCI 2H03 Lecture Notes - Runaway Greenhouse Effect, Earth Analog, Shortwave Radio
11 Jun 2013
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Document Summary
Until now the only example of a know habitable planet. Earth orbits the sun within a region called the habitable zone. What is the habitable zone: region where an earth analog planet can maintain liquid water on its surface, certain concentration of greenhouse gases that maintain idea temperature, right mass to have developed plate tectonics. Liquid water important for habitability the best solvent for life to emerge and evolve in several key characteristics: large dipole moment, ability to form hydrogen bonds, hydrophilic/hydrophobic fashion. Water is found in a multitude of places in the universe. Water: abundant in our galaxy can be found in different environments: stellar atmospheres (gaseous form) The habitable zone (hz) inner edge of the hz: Greenhouse effect fails to keep the planet above the freezing point. No greenhouse gases that can influence temperature. Earth is at the ideal distance from the sun. Depending on the mass of the star, the habitable zone increases with a higher mass.
