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The majority of potentially habitable exoplanets detected orbit stars coolerthan the Sun, and therefore are irradiated by a stellar spectrum peaking atlonger wavelengths than that incident on Earth. Here, we present results from aset of simulations of tidally-locked terrestrial planets orbiting threedifferent host stars to isolate the effect of the stellar spectra on thesimulated climate. Specifically, we perform simulations based on TRAPPIST-1e,adopting an Earth-like atmosphere and using the UK Met Office Unified Model inan idealised 'aqua-planet' configuration. Whilst holding the planetaryparameters constant, including the total stellar flux (900 W/m$^2$) and orbitalperiod (6.10 Earth days), we compare results between simulations where thestellar spectrum is that of a quiescent TRAPPIST-1, Proxima Centauri and theSun. The simulations with cooler host stars had an increased proportion ofincident stellar radiation absorbed directly by the troposphere compared to thesurface. This, in turn, led to an increase in the stability against convection,a reduction in overall cloud coverage on the dayside (reducing scattering),leading to warmer surface temperatures. The increased direct heating of thetroposphere also led to more efficient heat transport from the dayside to thenightside and, therefore, a reduced day-night temperature contrast. We inferredthat planets with an Earth-like atmosphere orbiting cooler stars had lowerdayside cloud coverage, potentially allowing habitable conditions at increasedorbital radii, compared to similar planets orbiting hotter stars for a givenplanetary rotation rate.

Implications of different stellar spectra for the climate of tidally-locked Earth-like exoplanets