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We investigate the abiotic production of oxygen and its photochemicalbyproduct ozone through water vapor photolysis in moist atmospheres oftemperate terrestrial exoplanets. The amount of water vapor available forphotolysis in the middle atmosphere of a planet can be limited by anatmospheric cold-trap, the formation of which largely depends on the amount ofnon-condensable gases. We study this effect using a photochemical model coupledto a 1D radiative-convective equilibrium model in atmospheres with N2, CO2 andH2O as the main constituents. We find that in atmospheres with a low N2inventory, water vapor mixing ratios in the middle atmosphere can be over twoorders of magnitude higher compared to atmospheres with an Earth-like N2inventory. Without a strong surface sink, the non-condensable oxygen can buildup rapidly, drying out the upper atmosphere. With a moderate surface sink, theplanet can approach a steady state with significant oxygen mixing ratios inwhich oxygen production is balanced by surface uptake. We use a radiativetransfer model to study the spectroscopic fingerprint of these atmospheres intransit observations. Spectral signatures of abiotic oxygen and ozone can be ofcomparable magnitude as in spectra of Earth seen as an exoplanet. Middleatmospheric water vapor is unlikely to be a usable indicator of the abioticorigin of oxygen because of the influence of oxygen on the water vapordistribution. This suggests that atmospheric oxygen and ozone cannot be used asbinary bioindicators and their interpretation will likely require atmosphericand planetary models.

astrophysical journal/the astrophysical journal

Buildup of Abiotic Oxygen and Ozone in Moist Atmospheres of Temperate  Terrestrial Exoplanets and its Impact on the Spectral Fingerprint in Transit  Observations