3D modeling of clouds in GJ1214b's atmosphere

GJ1214b is a warm mini-Neptune/waterworld and one of the few low-mass exoplanets whose atmosphere is characterizable by current telescopes. Recent observations indicated a flat transit spectrum in near-infrared which has been interpreted as the presence of high and thick condensate clouds of KCl or ZnS or photochemical hazes. However, the formation of such high clouds/hazes would require a strong vertical mixing linked to the atmospheric circulation. In order to understand the transport, distribution and observational implications of such clouds/haze, we studied the atmospheric circulation and cloud formation on GJ1214b for H-dominated and water-dominated atmospheres using the Generic LMDZ GCM.Firstly, we analyzed cloud-free atmospheres. We showed that the zonal mean meridional circulation corresponds to an anti-Hadley circulation in most of the atmosphere with upwelling at midlatitude and downwelling at the equator. This circulation should strongly impact cloud formation and distribution, leading to a minimum of cloud at the equator. We also derived 1D equivalent eddy diffusion coefficients. The corresponding values should favor an efficient formation of photochemical haze in the upper atmosphere of GJ1214b.Secondly, we simulated cloudy atmospheres including latent heat release and radiative effects for KCl and ZnS clouds. We analyzed their impacts on the thermal structure. In particular, we fund that ZnS clouds may lead to the formation of a stratospheric thermal inversion. We showed that flat transit spectra consistent with HST observations are possible for cloud particle radii around 0.5 microns. Using the outputs of our GCM, we also generated emission and reflection spectra and phases curves.Finally, our results suggest that primary and secondary eclipses and phase curves observed by JWST should provide strong constraints on the nature of GJ1214b's atmosphere and clouds.