It is generally believed that the addition of continents cools the climate of an aquaplanet with a similar orbit to Earth; this is because continents have a higher surface albedo than oceans. A similar effect has been shown in climate simulations for exoplanets. Here we demonstrate that the influence of a continent on ocean circulation could have a dominative effect on the climate of a synchronously rotating exoplanet compared with the effect of the surface albedo, especially when the rotation of the exoplanet is relatively slow (e.g., the rotational period is 40 Earth days). The global mean surface temperature could vary by more than 26 C, simply by moving a small continent to a different location. The ocean circulation on a synchronously rotating exoplanet is characterized by a strong westerly jet along the equator and one large gyre in each hemisphere. The surface temperature decreases when the equatorial westerly or the western branch of either of the gyres is blocked by a continent or an island arc chain. However, if the continent blocks the eastern branch of the gyre, the equatorial westerly is strengthened and the climate warms. A large number of potentially habitable exoplanets have been found orbiting around M-dwarfs in a tidally locked manner; our results indicate that their climates, as well as their atmospheric chemistry, may deviate from previous estimates if a small continent, or even an island arc chain, is present.

人们普遍认为，大陆的加入使与地球轨道相似的水行星的气候变冷；这是因为大陆的表面反照率高于海洋。在系外行星的气候模拟中也显示出类似的效果。在这里，我们证明，与表面反照率的影响相比，大陆对海洋环流的影响可能对同步旋转的系外行星的气候产生支配性影响，尤其是当系外行星的旋转相对较慢时（例如，自转周期）是 40 个地球日）。只需将一个小大陆移动到不同的位置，全球平均地表温度的变化就可能超过 26 摄氏度。同步旋转的系外行星上的海洋环流的特点是沿赤道有强烈的西风急流，在每个半球都有一个大环流。当赤道西风或环流的西支被大陆或岛弧链阻挡时，地表温度降低。但是，如果大陆挡住环流的东支，赤道西风加强，气候变暖。已经发现大量可能宜居的系外行星以潮汐锁定的方式围绕 M 矮星运行。我们的结果表明，如果存在一个小大陆，甚至是一个岛弧链，它们的气候以及它们的大气化学可能会与之前的估计有所不同。当赤道西风或环流的西支被大陆或岛弧链阻挡时，地表温度降低。但是，如果大陆挡住环流的东支，赤道西风加强，气候变暖。已发现大量可能宜居的系外行星以潮汐锁定方式围绕 M 矮星运行；我们的结果表明，如果存在一个小大陆，甚至是一个岛弧链，它们的气候以及它们的大气化学可能会与之前的估计有所不同。当赤道西风或环流的西支被大陆或岛弧链阻挡时，地表温度降低。但是，如果大陆挡住环流的东支，赤道西风加强，气候变暖。已发现大量可能宜居的系外行星以潮汐锁定方式围绕 M 矮星运行；我们的结果表明，如果存在一个小大陆，甚至是一个岛弧链，它们的气候以及它们的大气化学可能会与之前的估计有所不同。已发现大量可能宜居的系外行星以潮汐锁定方式围绕 M 矮星运行；我们的结果表明，如果存在一个小大陆，甚至是一个岛弧链，它们的气候以及它们的大气化学可能会与之前的估计有所不同。已发现大量可能宜居的系外行星以潮汐锁定方式围绕 M 矮星运行；我们的结果表明，如果存在一个小大陆，甚至是一个岛弧链，它们的气候以及它们的大气化学可能会与之前的估计有所不同。