Irradiated Atmospheres. I. Heating by Vertical-mixing-induced Energy Transport

Observations have revealed unique temperature profiles in hot Jupiter atmospheres. We propose that the energy transport by vertical mixing could lead to such thermal features. In our new scenario, strong absorbers, TiO, and VO are not necessary. Vertical mixing could be naturally excited by atmosphe...

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Main Authors: Wei Zhong, Zhen-Tai Zhang, Hui-Sheng Zhong, Bo Ma, Xianyu Tan, Cong Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2024-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad9473
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author Wei Zhong
Zhen-Tai Zhang
Hui-Sheng Zhong
Bo Ma
Xianyu Tan
Cong Yu
author_facet Wei Zhong
Zhen-Tai Zhang
Hui-Sheng Zhong
Bo Ma
Xianyu Tan
Cong Yu
author_sort Wei Zhong
collection DOAJ
description Observations have revealed unique temperature profiles in hot Jupiter atmospheres. We propose that the energy transport by vertical mixing could lead to such thermal features. In our new scenario, strong absorbers, TiO, and VO are not necessary. Vertical mixing could be naturally excited by atmospheric circulation or internal gravity wave breaking. We perform radiative transfer calculations by taking into account the vertical-mixing-driven energy transport. The radiative equilibrium is replaced by the radiative-mixing equilibrium. We investigate how the mixing strength, K _zz , affects the atmospheric temperature–pressure profile. Strong mixing can heat the lower atmosphere and cool the upper atmosphere. This effect has important effects on the atmosphere's thermal features that would form without mixing. In certain circumstances, it can induce temperature inversions in scenarios where the temperature monotonically increases with increasing pressure under conditions of lower thermal band opacity. Temperature inversions show up as K _zz increases with altitude due to shear interaction with the convection layer. The atmospheric thermal structure of HD 209458b can be well fitted with K _zz ∝ ( P /1 bar) ^−1/2 cm ^2 s ^−1 . Our findings suggest vertical mixing promotes temperature inversions and lowers K _zz estimates compared to prior studies. Incorporating chemical species into vertical mixing will significantly affect the thermal profile due to their temperature sensitivity.
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spelling doaj-art-a6265d9ae59b46a59ec3c70647d93bc22025-08-20T02:52:12ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572024-01-019781410.3847/1538-4357/ad9473Irradiated Atmospheres. I. Heating by Vertical-mixing-induced Energy TransportWei Zhong0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0447-7207Zhen-Tai Zhang1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1986-2185Hui-Sheng Zhong2https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9413-9840Bo Ma3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0378-2023Xianyu Tan4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2278-6932Cong Yu5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0454-7890School of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-Sen University , Zhuhai, 519082, People’s Republic of China ; yucong@mail.sysu.edu.cn; CSST Science Center for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area , Zhuhai, 519082, People’s Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Macau University of Science and Technology , Macau, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-Sen University , Zhuhai, 519082, People’s Republic of China ; yucong@mail.sysu.edu.cn; CSST Science Center for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area , Zhuhai, 519082, People’s Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Macau University of Science and Technology , Macau, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-Sen University , Zhuhai, 519082, People’s Republic of China ; yucong@mail.sysu.edu.cn; CSST Science Center for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area , Zhuhai, 519082, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-Sen University , Zhuhai, 519082, People’s Republic of China ; yucong@mail.sysu.edu.cn; CSST Science Center for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area , Zhuhai, 519082, People’s Republic of ChinaTsung-Dao Lee Institute & School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , Shanghai 201210, People's Republic of ChinaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-Sen University , Zhuhai, 519082, People’s Republic of China ; yucong@mail.sysu.edu.cn; CSST Science Center for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area , Zhuhai, 519082, People’s Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, Macau University of Science and Technology , Macau, People’s Republic of ChinaObservations have revealed unique temperature profiles in hot Jupiter atmospheres. We propose that the energy transport by vertical mixing could lead to such thermal features. In our new scenario, strong absorbers, TiO, and VO are not necessary. Vertical mixing could be naturally excited by atmospheric circulation or internal gravity wave breaking. We perform radiative transfer calculations by taking into account the vertical-mixing-driven energy transport. The radiative equilibrium is replaced by the radiative-mixing equilibrium. We investigate how the mixing strength, K _zz , affects the atmospheric temperature–pressure profile. Strong mixing can heat the lower atmosphere and cool the upper atmosphere. This effect has important effects on the atmosphere's thermal features that would form without mixing. In certain circumstances, it can induce temperature inversions in scenarios where the temperature monotonically increases with increasing pressure under conditions of lower thermal band opacity. Temperature inversions show up as K _zz increases with altitude due to shear interaction with the convection layer. The atmospheric thermal structure of HD 209458b can be well fitted with K _zz ∝ ( P /1 bar) ^−1/2 cm ^2 s ^−1 . Our findings suggest vertical mixing promotes temperature inversions and lowers K _zz estimates compared to prior studies. Incorporating chemical species into vertical mixing will significantly affect the thermal profile due to their temperature sensitivity.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad9473Exoplanet atmospheresAtmospheric structureRadiative transfer simulationsRadiative transfer equation
spellingShingle Wei Zhong
Zhen-Tai Zhang
Hui-Sheng Zhong
Bo Ma
Xianyu Tan
Cong Yu
Irradiated Atmospheres. I. Heating by Vertical-mixing-induced Energy Transport
The Astrophysical Journal
Exoplanet atmospheres
Atmospheric structure
Radiative transfer simulations
Radiative transfer equation
title Irradiated Atmospheres. I. Heating by Vertical-mixing-induced Energy Transport
title_full Irradiated Atmospheres. I. Heating by Vertical-mixing-induced Energy Transport
title_fullStr Irradiated Atmospheres. I. Heating by Vertical-mixing-induced Energy Transport
title_full_unstemmed Irradiated Atmospheres. I. Heating by Vertical-mixing-induced Energy Transport
title_short Irradiated Atmospheres. I. Heating by Vertical-mixing-induced Energy Transport
title_sort irradiated atmospheres i heating by vertical mixing induced energy transport
topic Exoplanet atmospheres
Atmospheric structure
Radiative transfer simulations
Radiative transfer equation
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad9473
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AT xianyutan irradiatedatmospheresiheatingbyverticalmixinginducedenergytransport
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