Microphysical Prescriptions for Parameterized Water Cloud Formation on Ultra-cool Substellar Objects

• DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad6c4c
• Publication Date: 2024-10-11T06:35:37Z
• Authors: James Mang; Caroline V. Morley; Tyler D. Robinson; Peter Gao
• Keywords: QB460-466; Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Y dwarfs; Brown dwarfs; Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics; Atmospheric clouds; Extrasolar gaseous giant planets; FOS: Physical sciences; Astrophysics; Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR); Exoplanet atmospheres; Planetary atmospheres; Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

Abstract Water must condense into ice clouds in the coldest brown dwarfs and exoplanets. When they form, these icy change emergent spectra, temperature structure, albedo of substellar atmosphere. The properties are governed by complex microphysics but complexities often not captured simpler parameterized cloud models used climate or retrieval models. Here, we combine microphysical modeling 1D to incorporate insights from a self-consistent, model. Using Community Aerosol Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA), generate water compare their with those widely EddySed model grid Y dwarfs. We find that mass condensate our CARMA is significantly limited available condensation nuclei; without additional seed particles added, atmosphere becomes supersaturated. latent heat release convective radiative parts no significant impact on water-ice formation typical gas giant compositions. Our analysis reveals profiles have gradual decrease opacity approximately 4% per bar below base. Incorporating this base falloff variable f sed parameter allows spectra generated Eddysed better match This work provides recommendations efficiently generating microphysically informed future cold objects H/He atmospheres.