A Terminology and Quantitative Framework for Assessing the Habitability of Solar System and Extraterrestrial Worlds

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantitative, probabilistic framework for assessing planetary habitability, aiding the search for extraterrestrial life by providing a self-consistent method applicable across diverse environments.

Contribution

It presents a novel, open-source habitability assessment framework that integrates habitat and viability models, enabling flexible and self-consistent analysis of potential extraterrestrial habitats.

Findings

Framework successfully compares exoplanets for target prioritization

Interprets atmospheric O2 detection in exoplanets

Assesses subsurface habitability of Mars and ocean habitability of Europa

Abstract

The search for extraterrestrial life in the Solar System and beyond is a key science driver in astrobiology, planetary science, and astrophysics. A critical step is the identification and characterization of potential habitats, both to guide the search and to interpret its results. However, a well-accepted, self-consistent, flexible, and quantitative terminology and method of assessment of habitability are lacking. Our paper fills this gap based on a three year-long study by the NExSS Quantitative Habitability Science Working Group. We reviewed past studies of habitability, but find that the lack of a universally valid definition of life prohibits a universally applicable definition of habitability. A more nuanced approach is needed. We introduce a quantitative habitability assessment framework (QHF) that enables self-consistent, probabilistic assessment of the compatibility of two models: First, a habitat model, which describes the probability distributions of key conditions in the habitat. Second, a viability model, which describes the probability that a metabolism is viable given a set of environmental conditions. We provide an open-source implementation of this framework and four examples as a proof of concept: (a) Comparison of two exoplanets for observational target prioritization; (b) Interpretation of atmospheric O2 detection in two exoplanets; (c) Subsurface habitability of Mars; and (d) Ocean habitability in Europa. These examples demonstrate that our framework can self-consistently inform astrobiology research over a broad range of questions. The proposed framework is modular so that future work can expand the range and complexity of models available, both for habitats and for metabolisms.