ClimateAugust 7, 2026

disequilibrium

DIS-ee-kwee-LIB-ree-um

Definition

A state in which chemical, physical, or thermodynamic conditions are not in a balanced or stable equilibrium.

Etymology

Derived from the French 'déséquilibre' and the Latin prefix 'dis-' (apart/not) combined with 'equilibrium', which stems from the Latin 'aequilibrium' (equal balance).

In the news

In this context, the term refers to the chemical disequilibrium in planetary atmospheres, which provides vital clues about atmospheric composition that can be obscured by stellar contamination.

JWST Transmission Spectroscopy Of TOI-3235 b: Challenges In Constraining Giant Planet Atmospheres Around M Dwarfs Amid Stellar Contamination

Read the full article ↗

astrobiology.com

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