# Detecting Volcanism on Extrasolar Planets

**Authors:** L. Kaltenegger, W. G. Henning, D. D. Sasselov  
**arXiv:** [1009.1355](https://arxiv.org/abs/1009.1355)  
**Date:** 2010-09-07  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/1009.1355v1/

## Key points

- Corot 7b is the first transiting rocky super-Earth with a surface temperature that allows for magma oceans
- Authors explore possibility of detecting rocky exoplanets with recent major volcanism through remote observation techniques
- They develop a model for volcanic eruptions on an Earth-like exoplanet based on present-day Earth and derive observable features in emergent and transmission spectra for various scenarios of gas distribution and cloud cover
- The authors calculate the observation time required to detect explosive volcanism on exoplanets during primary as well as secondary eclipse
- Sulfur dioxide from large explosive eruptions presents a spectral signal that is remotely detectable, especially for secondary eclipse measurements around the closest stars using ground-based telescopes
- Study demonstrates that transit probability decreases with distance to the host star making small close by host stars ideal targets for observing volcanic activity on exoplanets in their habitable zones.

## Summary

The search for extrasolar rocky planets has led to the discovery of Corot 7b, the first transiting rocky super-Earth with a surface temperature that allows for magma oceans. In this paper, authors L. Kaltenegger, W. G. Henning and D. D. Sasselov explore the possibility of detecting rocky exoplanets with recent major volcanism through remote observation techniques. They develop a model for volcanic eruptions on an Earth-like exoplanet based on present-day Earth and derive observable features in emergent and transmission spectra for various scenarios of gas distribution and cloud cover. The authors calculate the observation time required to detect explosive volcanism on exoplanets during primary as well as secondary eclipse and discuss the likelihood of observing volcanism on transiting Earth to super-Earth sized exoplanets in their habitable zones. They report that sulfur dioxide from large explosive eruptions presents a spectral signal that is remotely detectable, especially for secondary eclipse measurements around the closest stars using ground-based telescopes. Furthermore, they provide insight into how we can use remote observation techniques to identify rocky exoplanets with recent major volcanism and expand our understanding of planetary formation processes beyond our solar system by calculating the frequency and magnitude of expected signatures. Overall, this study demonstrates that transit probability decreases with distance to the host star making small close by host stars ideal targets for observing volcanic activity on exoplanets in their habitable zones. It also provides valuable information about how we can use remote observation techniques to identify rocky exoplanets with recent major volcanism which expands our understanding of planetary formation processes beyond our solar system.