CO2 condensation can seriously limit the deglaciation of Earth-like planets
Résumé
It is widely believed that the carbonate-silicate cycle is the main agent to trigger deglaciations by CO2 greenhouse warming on Earth and by extension on Earth-like planets when they get in frozen state. Using a 3D Global Climate Model, we show that planets with Earth-like characteristics (size, mass, obliquity, rotation rate, ...) orbiting a Sun-like star may never be able to escape from a glaciation era if their orbital distance is greater than ˜1.27 Astronomical Units because CO2 would condense at the poles (here the cold traps) forming permanent CO2 ice caps. This limits the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and thus its greenhouse effect.