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Detailed Reference Information |
Gaidos, E.J., Güdel, M. and Blake, G.A. (2000). The Faint Young Sun Paradox: An observational test of an alternative solar model. Geophysical Research Letters 27: doi: 10.1029/1999GL010740. issn: 0094-8276. |
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We report the results of deep observations at radio (3.6 cm) wavelengths of the nearby solar-type star &pgr;01 Ursa Majoris with the Very Large Array (VLA) intended to test an alternative theory of solar luminosity evolution. The standard model predicts a solar luminosity only 75% of the present value and surface temperatures below freezing on Earth and Mars at 4 Ga, seemingly in conflict with geologic evidence for liquid water on these planets. An alternative model invokes a compensatory mass loss through a declining solar wind that results in a more consistent early luminosity. The free-free emission from an enhanced wind around nearby young Sun-like stars should be detectable at microwave frequencies. Our observations of &pgr;01 UMa, a 300 million year-old solar-mass star, place an upper limit on the mass loss rate of 4-5¿10-11 M⊙ yr-1. Total mass loss from such a star over 4 Gyr would be less than 6%. If this star is indeed an analog of the early Sun, it casts doubt on the alternative model as a solution to the faint young Sun paradox, particularly for Mars. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics, Paleoclimatology, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Origin and evolution, Radio Science, Radio astronomy |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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