EUROPEAN ASTROBIOLOGY INSTITUTE
EAI on-line seminar: CLIMATE BISTABILITY OF TERRESTRIAL EXOPLANETS
Antonello Provenzale, CNR, Italy
22 September 16:00 CEST (14:00 UTC)
Planetary climates are complex systems that include a multitude of stabilizing (negative) and destabilizing (positive) feedback loops. One of them, the ice-albedo feedback, is thought to be responsible for the existence of multiple stable states of the Earth’s climate, with the alternation between ice-covered conditions (the most extreme being the so-called Snowball) and warm states. Here, we explore the possible presence of bistability in the climate of Earth-like planets, using a simple one-dimensional climate model called ESTM. During the talk, we will consider the role of ice-albedo feedback for a wide range of orbital and planetary parameters such as distance from the star, ellipticity, obliquity and atmospheric pressure. Other possible mechanisms for bistability will also be mentioned, such as the vegetation-albedo and the vegetation-moisture feedbacks. Implications on planetary habitability will finally be discussed.
This will be the first seminar in a series of EAI on-line seminars. To join follow the following link:
https://www.gotomeet.me/europeanastrobiologyinstitute/eai-webtalk1
The European Astrobiology Institute presents "Strangest of All, an anthology of astrobiological science fiction"
Strangest of All, developed in cooperation of the European Astrobiology Institute and scientist and editor Julie Nováková, is an anthology of astrobiology-themed science fiction stories aimed to both entertain and educate. It takes you on a journey to encounter life in the universe, as imagined in SF stories by award-winning authors, and our chances of finding it outside of the Earth, detecting it remotely, learning its limits and more in original nonfiction essays following each story. The book contains reprint science fiction stories by G. David Nordley, Geoffrey Landis, Gregory Benford, Tobias S. Buckell, Peter Watts and D. A. Xiaolin Spires, and a bonus story by the editor.
See a full description of the anthology here. The anthology can be downloaded as a .pdf file here. It is also available as a .mobi and .epub file.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the BEACON conference has been adjourned. Most likely dates are now 12-16 April 2021. We apologise for the inconvenience and hope to welcome you in La Palma in 2021 ! See the cancellation procedures at the BEACON website
POSTPONED
The summer school on "Formation and evolution of planetary systems and habitable planets" will be organised by the European Astrobiology Institute at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń has been adjourned. We hope to hold it in 2021.
For all information check the website:
The European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) is a consortium of European research and higher education institutions and organisations as well as other stakeholders aiming to carry out research, training, outreach and dissemination activities in astrobiology in a comprehensive and coordinated manner and thereby securing a leading role for the European Research Area in the field.
On this website you will find information on the aims, structure, forms of membership as well as the composition of the Management Committee. Documents available on this site include:
- the Statutes of the EAI
- an executive summary
- a promotional folder
- the communiques of the past meetings of the EAI Interim Board
- the resolutions of the General Assembly in Liblice, CZ (30 May 2019)
We are looking forward to welcoming your institution as paricipant into the EAI. Meanwhile, we are interested in your views and hope that you find the information available on this site useful.
Please join us at the Biannual European Astrobiology Conference (BEACON) on La Palma Island, Canary Island, Spain (20-24 April 2020). Abstract submission deadline is closed but you can still register. Rooms at the venue are still available on a first come-first served basis.