3D Modeling of Moist Convective Inhibition in Idealized Sub-Neptune Atmospheres

TL;DR

This study uses 3D simulations to investigate how compositional gradients and condensation inhibit convection in hydrogen-rich atmospheres, revealing stable radiative layers that impact heat and tracer transport in sub-Neptune exoplanets.

Contribution

First 3D convection-resolving simulations demonstrate the formation of stable inhibition layers due to condensation in H2-rich atmospheres, extending previous 1D predictions.

Findings

Stable inhibition layers form when tracer exceeds critical threshold.

Latent heat flux and turbulent mixing are weak within inhibition layers.

Thermal profiles relax to steep radiative states over long timescales.

Abstract

Atmospheric convection behaves differently in hydrogen-rich atmospheres compared to higher mean molecular weight atmospheres due to compositional gradients of tracers. Previous 1D studies predict that when a condensible tracer exceeds a critical mixing ratio in H$_2$-rich atmospheres, convection is inhibited leading to the formation of radiative layers where the temperature decreases faster with height than in convective profiles. We use 3D convection-resolving simulations to test whether convection is inhibited in H$_2$-rich atmospheres when the tracer mixing ratio exceeds the critical threshold, while including processes neglected in 1D, e.g. turbulent mixing and evaporation. We run two sets of simulations. First, we perform simulations initialized on saturated isothermal states and find that compositional gradients can destabilize isothermal atmospheres. Second, we perform simulations initialized on adiabatic profiles which show distinct, stable inhibition layers form when the condensable tracer exceeds the critical threshold. Within the inhibition layer, only a small amount of energy is carried by latent heat flux, and turbulent mixing transports a small amount of tracer upwards, but both are generally too weak to sustain substantial tracer or heat transport. The thermal profile gradually relaxes to a steep radiative state, but radiative relaxation timescales are long. Our results suggest stable layers driven by condensation-induced convective inhibition form in H$_2$-rich atmospheres, including those of sub-Neptune exoplanets.