Photosynthetic potential of planets in 3 : 2 spin-orbit resonances

Brown, SP; Mead, AJ; Forgan, DH; Raven, JA; Cockell, CS

Photosynthetic potential of planets in 3 : 2 spin-orbit resonances

Brown, SP Mead, AJ Forgan, DH Raven, JA

Cockell, CS

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Astrobiology, 2014, 13 (4), pp. 279 - 289
Issue Date:: 2014-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Brown, SP	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mead, AJ	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Forgan, DH	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Raven, JA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2789-3297	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Cockell, CS	en_US
dc.date.issued	2014-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Astrobiology, 2014, 13 (4), pp. 279 - 289	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1473-5504	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/37308
dc.description.abstract	© Cambridge University Press 2014. Photosynthetic life requires sufficient photosynthetically active radiation to metabolize. On Earth, plant behaviour, physiology and metabolism are sculpted around the night-day cycle by an endogenous biological circadian clock. The evolution of life was influenced by the Earth-Sun orbital dynamic, which generates the photo-environment incident on the planetary surface. In this work, the unusual photo-environment of an Earth-like planet (ELP) in 3 : 2 spin-orbit resonance is explored. Photo-environments on the ELP are longitudinally differentiated, in addition to differentiations related to latitude and depth (for aquatic organisms) which are familiar on Earth. The light environment on such a planet could be compatible with Earth's photosynthetic life although the threat of atmospheric freeze-out and prolonged periods of darkness would present significant challenges. We emphasize the relationship between the evolution of life on a planetary body with its orbital dynamics.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Astrobiology	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1017/S1473550414000068	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Astronomy & Astrophysics	en_US
dc.title	Photosynthetic potential of planets in 3 : 2 spin-orbit resonances	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	13	en_US
utslib.for	0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	0403 Geology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	4	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	13	en_US

Abstract:

© Cambridge University Press 2014. Photosynthetic life requires sufficient photosynthetically active radiation to metabolize. On Earth, plant behaviour, physiology and metabolism are sculpted around the night-day cycle by an endogenous biological circadian clock. The evolution of life was influenced by the Earth-Sun orbital dynamic, which generates the photo-environment incident on the planetary surface. In this work, the unusual photo-environment of an Earth-like planet (ELP) in 3 : 2 spin-orbit resonance is explored. Photo-environments on the ELP are longitudinally differentiated, in addition to differentiations related to latitude and depth (for aquatic organisms) which are familiar on Earth. The light environment on such a planet could be compatible with Earth's photosynthetic life although the threat of atmospheric freeze-out and prolonged periods of darkness would present significant challenges. We emphasize the relationship between the evolution of life on a planetary body with its orbital dynamics.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/37308