Rules Only: HOT Standard Atmospheres

[Bromo33333]

Considering that the Life Zone of a planet is generally thought to be where liquid water is present on the surface, so 0C to 100C or so.

This means one could conceive of a world that's too hot for humans to live unassisted, but would have a completely acceptable atmosphere were it cooled down.

I was thinking of a planet whose surface temperature might approach 60C or so, which is too hot for most life on Earth to live, but the planet might have a full and vibrant ecosystem.

I don't know how to characterize a world like that using Traveller rules? WOuld it be a "B" atmosphere, it's not corrosive, but it would require a cooling suit to walk around in, and would need ot have a partially sealed environment whith powerful air conditioning in order ot survive, unless one was in the arctic regions or on top of a tall mountain?

 

[AnotherDilbert]

The entire planet will not have the same temperature. The poles will be cooler than the equator.

Earth has an average temperature of about 15° C IIRC, while the poles can be ~50° cooler. If the same relationship holds for the average 60° world the poles would be something like average 10° and quite pleasant.


You could use atmo F, or just leave it at Standard as a surprise to players who think all world are the same.

 

[The Pakkrat]

One might try Dense Atmosphere but then pull the world into the HZ-1 (one Orbit closer to the stellar primary) to produce the Hot (Ho) Classification. From there, play with Hydrosphere for further tweaking. How about World Size 9 for hardy and strong jungles, steaming rainforests, so hot as to turn humans into walking raisins?

The other direction is to take the Hydrosphere to 0 Desert (De) or Hydrosphere 1 or 2 for very dry and Hot settings deemed unworthy of colonization.

 

[Timerover51]

I figure that both Hot and Humid, and Hot and Dry, are both good atmospheric taints. Cold and Dry is another, as you can dehydrate under those conditions as well, along with having problems of not eating sufficient calories to keep your body warm.

 

[Bromo33333]

One might try Dense Atmosphere but then pull the world into the HZ-1 (one Orbit closer to the stellar primary) to produce the Hot (Ho) Classification. From there, play with Hydrosphere for further tweaking. How about World Size 9 for hardy and strong jungles, steaming rainforests, so hot as to turn humans into walking raisins?

The other direction is to take the Hydrosphere to 0 Desert (De) or Hydrosphere 1 or 2 for very dry and Hot settings deemed unworthy of colonization.

I recall readin "The Forever War" (good book if you havent' read it) and at one point the protagonist found himself on a jungle like world, but the ambient temperature was around 70C and it was incredibly humid, too, so they had to remain in their suits or they would quickly die, but there was a more than complete ecosystem and a mysterious semi telepathic life form there along with the aliens they were at war with.

I could see a planet like X988000-0 in the Hot Zone. For sure it wouldn't be subject to human colonization, but an alien race might if adapted to that temperature. Or as someone pointe dout to me, if the average temp is 60C, the poles might be around 30C and equator about 80-90C. So a heat wave could boil the oceans in some areas. So I wonder if there would be a dry desert "Belt" in the middle of the planet?

I am sure there are some studies available about how biochemistry works in a hot soup.

 

[Xerxeskingofking]

random thoughts:

such a hot world might make a suitable training envrioment for vac suit training. the trainees would need to stay in their suits the whole time, and theirs a genuine, real life consequence to failing to carry out their drills correctly, but its not instantly fatal and thiers enough time for the training staff to intervene if needed.

kinda like the "wet boxes" navies use for damage control training, or the dunkable helicopter frames for water evacuation drills, or the gas rooms for CBRN practice.


such a world would likely exhibit biochemical processes unique to its high temp environment, which might lead to some intresting pharmaceutical exports and research .

 

[Bromo33333]

such a world would likely exhibit biochemical processes unique to its high temp environment, which might lead to some intresting pharmaceutical exports and research .

Hmmm ... then having a base near the ocean and outposts where research and harvesting might happen.

If it was in full production then a starport class "D" or "C" would be in order depending upon the amount of traffic and if it maintained a fleet there or not.

About 200-500 people with half at the central site near one of the poles, and the other half scattered near harvest locations on the surface in portable outposts.

And a military base that does boot camp on the surface with vac suit training.

:-D