| Ultraviolet radiation from F and K stars and implications for planetary habitability. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 11536831 Owner: NASA Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Now that extrasolar planets have been found, it is timely to ask whether some of them might be suitable for life. Climatic constraints on planetary habitability indicate that a reasonably wide habitable zone exists around main sequence stars with spectral types in the early-F to mid-K range. However, it has not been demonstrated that planets orbiting such stars would be habitable when biologically-damaging energetic radiation is also considered. The large amounts of UV radiation emitted by early-type stars have been suggested to pose a problem for evolving life in their vicinity. But one might also argue that the real problem lies with late-type stars, which emit proportionally less radiation at the short wavelengths (lambda < 200 nm) required to split O2 and initiate ozone formation. We show here that neither of these concerns is necessarily fatal to the evolution of advanced life: Earth-like planets orbiting F and K stars may well receive less harmful UV radiation at their surfaces than does the Earth itself. |
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Authors:
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J F Kasting; D C Whittet; W R Sheldon |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere : the journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life Volume: 27 ISSN: 0169-6149 ISO Abbreviation: Orig Life Evol Biosph Publication Date: 1997 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1998-09-24 Completed Date: 1998-09-24 Revised Date: 2008-11-21 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8610391 Medline TA: Orig Life Evol Biosph Country: NETHERLANDS |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 413-20 Citation Subset: S |
Affiliation:
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Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Astronomical Phenomena Astronomy Atmosphere / chemistry* Evolution, Planetary Extraterrestrial Environment* Models, Chemical* Oxygen / analysis Ozone / analysis Photochemistry Planets* Ultraviolet Rays* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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10028-15-6/Ozone; 7782-44-7/Oxygen |
| Investigator | |
Investigator/Affiliation:
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J F Kasting / PA St U, University Park |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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