Evolution and Observable Properties of Rocky Planet Atmospheres
Marie-Luise Steinmeyer, Lena Noack, Philipp Baumeister, Keiko Hamano, Michael J. Way, Doris Breuer, Kanako Seki, Caroline Brachmann, Fabrice Gaillard, Manuel Scherf, Svetlana V. Berdyugina, Brice-Olivier Demory
astro-ph.EP
Submitted: 2026-07-13
Comments: 88 pages, 11 figures. Published in Space Science Reviews
Journal ref: Space Sci Rev 222, 56 (2026)
DOI: 10.1007/s11214-026-01308-4
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
The gist: The atmospheric composition of rocky exoplanets offers an important tool for constraining the properties of the interior of this type of planet, beyond what is possible from measurements of their
Terminology
Abstract
The atmospheric composition of rocky exoplanets offers an important tool for constraining the properties of the interior of this type of planet, beyond what is possible from measurements of their mass and radius alone. However, the interpretation of these observations requires an understanding of the complex interplay of a larger number of coupled planetary and atmospheric processes. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding rocky exoplanet atmospheres, beginning with their formation and escape mechanisms. We specifically highlight the importance of long-term interaction between the atmosphere, the surface, and the interior on rocky planets. Furthermore, this review addresses the influence of biological activity and photochemical reactions on the atmospheric compositions. Consequently, establishing how these different processes contribute to shaping the atmospheres of rocky exoplanets during their evolution is fundamental for the characterization of these planets with future space missions and ground-based surveys.
Sources
- JWST Reveals CH$_4$, CO$_2$, and H$_2$O in a Metal-rich Miscible Atmosphere on a Two-Earth-Radius Exoplanet
- Atmospheres as a Window to Rocky Exoplanet Surfaces
- Infrared radiation from an extrasolar planet
- Exoplanet Atmospheric Escape Observations with the Habitable Worlds Observatory
- Observations of planetary winds and outflows
- New observations of the extended hydrogen exosphere of the extrasolar planet HD209458b
- Thermal mass loss of protoplanetary cores with hydrogen-dominated atmospheres: The influences of ionization and orbital distance
- Exoplanets synchronization in the habitable zone: Learning from Venus' retrograde rotation
- The California-Kepler Survey. III. A Gap in the Radius Distribution of Small Planets
- Water versus land on temperate rocky planets
- The atmospheres of rocky exoplanets III. Using atmospheric spectra to constrain surface rock composition
- Photochemistry in Terrestrial Exoplanet Atmospheres I: Photochemistry Model and Benchmark Cases
- In-situ Accretion of Hydrogen-Rich Atmospheres on Short-Period Super-Earths: Implications for the Kepler-11 Planets
- Compositional imprints in density-distance-time: a rocky composition for close-in low-mass exoplanets from the location of the valley of evaporation
- The Upper Atmospheres of Terrestrial Planets: Carbon Dioxide Cooling and the Earth's Thermospheric Evolution
- Proton Irradiation of Primitive Atmospheres of Young Exoplanets and early Earth: $N_{\mathrm{2}}O$ Greenhouse Warming and Prebiotic Synthesis
- Understanding planetary context to enable life detection on exoplanets and test the Copernican principle
- A grid of upper atmosphere models for 1--40 MEARTH planets: application to CoRoT-7 b and HD219134 b,c
- Upper atmosphere dynamics and drivers of volatiles loss from terrestrial-type (exo)planets
- Formation of Venus, Earth and Mars: Constrained by isotopes
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