The effect of a biosphere on the habitable timespan of stagnant-lid planets and implications for the atmospheric spectrum

¹ Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany
² Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Schmiedlstr. 6, 8042 Graz, Austria
³ Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin, Germany
⁴ Center for Exoplanet Science, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, UK
⁵ Royal Observatory of Belgium, Ringlaan 3, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
⁶ Institute of Astronomy, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

^★★ Corresponding author; dennis.hoening@gmail.com

Received: 20 August 2024
Accepted: 2 December 2024

Abstract

Temperature-dependent biological productivity controls silicate weathering and thereby extends the potential habitable timespan of Earth. Models and theoretical considerations indicate that the runaway greenhouse on Earth-like exoplanets is generally accompanied by a dramatic increase in atmospheric H₂O and CO₂, which might be observed with the upcoming generation of space telescopes. If an active biosphere extends the habitable timespan of exoplanets similarly to Earth, observing the atmospheric spectra of exoplanets near the inner edge of the habitable zone could then give insights into whether the planet is inhabited. Here, we explore this idea for Earth-like stagnant-lid planets. We find that while for a reduced mantle, a surface biosphere extends the habitable timespan of the planet by about 1 Gyr, for more oxidising conditions, the biologically enhanced rate of weathering becomes increasingly compensated for by an increased supply rate of CO₂ to the atmosphere. Observationally, the resulting difference in atmospheric CO₂ near the inner edge of the habitable zone is clearly distinguishable between biotic planets with active weathering and abiotic planets that have experienced a runaway greenhouse. For an efficient hydrological cycle, the increased bioproductivity also leads to a CH₄ biosignature observable with JWST. As the planet becomes uninhabitable, the H₂O infrared absorption bands dominate, but the 4.3-µm CO₂ band remains a clear window into the CO₂ abundances. In summary, while the effect of life on the carbonate-silicate cycle leaves a record in the atmospheric spectrum of Earth-like stagnant-lid planets, future work is needed especially to determine the tectonic state and composition of exoplanets and to push forward the development of the next generation of space telescopes.