User Guide

A NEW SUN
APPENDIX 5
219
METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATOLOGY
Planet’s larger size and gravity result in a significantly higher sea level pressure
than Earth’s: 1.74 atmospheres (that is, 74% greater air pressure at sea level
than on Earth). This brings the partial pressure of Oxygen (15k Pascals) up to
acceptable levels, but the high overall pressure combined with such a large
quantity of Nitrogen produces deadly Nitrogen narcosis in unprotected humans.
Human colonists would have to wear pressure helmets, at the very least.
The temperature bands running along the surface of Planet are the most obvi-
ous climactic pattern. As on Earth, solar energy warms the equatorial areas,
and the weather cools as you migrate towards the poles. Thus, equatorial
regions produce more energy, while the poles tend to have more mineral
resources.
The rainfall patterns of Planet depend on the wind currents, which always
blow from west to east. Since the wind carries moisture with it from the
oceans, rain tends to fall on the west side of mountain ranges. You can see
this trend when looking at a big continent — green predominates on the west-
ern coast, indicating a great deal of rainy or moist terrain, while the east coast
remains dry and barren. Rainfall determines the amount of nutrients that may
be collected, so often the west coast of a continent proves a better source of
nutrients than the east coast. On flat continents or small islands, no elevations
exist to trap the rainfall, and so moisture tends to be more evenly distributed.
Also, river valleys usually have a reasonable amount of rain, so a river running
through a dry area can be a good base location.
The warm tropical seas of Planet are breeding grounds for hurricanes, which
are also encouraged by the high gravity and rapid rotation. The dense nitro-
gen atmosphere only partly offsets this. The equatorial cloud belts, however,
help to regulate the climate by reflecting sunlight.