If the Earth were adrift in space, what would happen to its atmosphere?

[CCWilson]

If the Earth were slung out of its orbit, away from the Sun's light and warmth, what would happen to its atmosphere? How quickly would it cool? The core and magma would provide some warmth to the surface, but even with our greenhouse gases holding in heat, I assume that everything would turn chilly very quickly. Anyone have any idea what the equilibrium temperature would be? How quickly would it be cold enough to liquify and freeze oxygen and nitrogen? A hundred or thousand years after its escape from our solar system, what would its atmosphere, if any, be like?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Well, how much colder does it get at night? A good guess would be twice that per day.

 

[mfb]

See this post for simulations.

 

[lxXTaCoXxl]

// Fixing post give me a second

 

[pmacias]

If the Earth were adrift in space or slung out of its orbit, away from the Sun's light and warmth, the atmosphere would undergo significant changes. The Earth's atmosphere is primarily composed of gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, which are held in place by the planet's gravity and the Sun's radiation. Without the Sun's warmth and gravity, the atmosphere would begin to dissipate into space.

The rate at which the atmosphere would cool would depend on various factors such as the distance from the Sun, the composition of the atmosphere, and the presence of any greenhouse gases. However, without the Sun's warmth, it is safe to assume that the Earth's atmosphere would cool down very quickly, potentially within a few years.

As for the equilibrium temperature, it would be difficult to predict as it would depend on the factors mentioned above. However, without the Sun's warmth, the Earth's surface would eventually reach extremely low temperatures, potentially cold enough to liquify and freeze oxygen and nitrogen.

A hundred or thousand years after escaping the solar system, the Earth's atmosphere, if any, would likely be very thin and composed mostly of gases such as hydrogen and helium. The Earth's magnetic field, which helps protect the atmosphere from the solar wind, would also weaken without the Sun's influence, making it easier for the atmosphere to escape into space.

In conclusion, if the Earth were adrift in space or slung out of its orbit, its atmosphere would undergo significant changes and eventually dissipate into space. Without the Sun's warmth and gravity, the Earth's atmosphere would cool down very quickly, potentially reaching extremely low temperatures. The atmosphere would also become very thin and composed of different gases, making it difficult for life to survive.