Fig. 3: Steady state initial profiles of various thermophysical parameters, temperature, and ice phases as a function of depth within a thick ice sheet on Proxima Centauri B assuming a surface temperature of 257 K.
From: Liquid water on cold exo-Earths via basal melting of ice sheets
a An example of initial steady-state profiles of temperature (a), specific heat (b), density (c), and ice-phase (d) as a function of depth in a 2 km thick ice sheet on exo-Earth Proxima Centauri B assuming a surface temperature of 257 K. The temperature is assumed to increase with depth in an adiabatic fashion. These initial profiles are coupled with a thermal evolution model to explore the feasibility of basal melting and the time-varying ice phase evolution of the thick ice cap. e Temperature distribution as a function of depth and time on Proxima Centauri B assuming a 2 km thick ice sheet, Ts of 257 K, and heat flow of 30 mW m−2. f Ice phase evolution as a function of depth and time on Proxima Centauri B assuming a 2 km thick ice sheet, Ts of 257 K, and heat flow of 30 mW m−2.
