Characterize the chemical composition of atmospheres on rocky exoplanets

Determine the chemical composition of atmospheres on rocky exoplanets by identifying their molecular constituents and abundances, so that detected atmospheres can be interpreted in terms of thermochemical and photochemical processes.

Background

The authors note that, to date, transmission spectra of several rocky planets have not shown definitive spectral features, underscoring the need for observations capable of constraining atmospheric composition. They highlight that JWST offers access to key molecular bands (e.g., CO2 near 15 μm) and that complementary HST UV data are crucial for modeling photochemistry and atmospheric loss.

Establishing composition is central to assessing habitability-related parameters (e.g., redox state, presence of CO2 and CH4), and is an essential next step once atmospheres are detected on rocky worlds.