Araxes is colder than most people expect.

 

The thought that first comes to people’s minds when they imagine a desert planet is hot. Most of Araxes is actually quite chilly. More so because of the thinner atmosphere in general and the altitude especially in the south.

 

Solar Radiation levels on Araxes is about 10 times terrestrial standard, about 3% of the amount in interplanetary space. This can be shielded against with some reasonable precautions. Most Araxes out of door gathering are at dusk and dawn for precisely this reason. Araxes however is susceptible to solar storms and solar flares dramatically increasing the already very high solar radiation levels. People are asked to pay close attention to the weather reports and take the recommended precautions as per the news bulletins.

 

Araxes has almost no axial tilt, seasonal variations are minimal.

 

Dark Blue 0-800 metres

LtBlue    800-1600 metres

Green    1600-2400 metres

Yellow   2400-3200 metres

Orange  3200-4000 metres

Red        4000-4800 metres

Brown   4800-5600 metres

White    5600+ metres

It might take some getting used to, but Araxes weather originates from the ground, not in the sky. After you have been in Araxes for a time, you might get in the habit of recognizing how the geography originates and affects the local weather.

Most of the northern hemisphere is covered by the so-called lowlands, the dark blue, light blue and green coloured areas on the map. Said lowlands cover nearly 2/3rds of the northern hemisphere, and over 40% of the entire planet’s surface.

The southern highlands covered almost 90% of the southern hemisphere, an altitude varies from 2400-4800 metres elevation, it average higher the further south you go.

In the south is where the temperatures really drops because of the effects of the higher altitude in the southern highlands. The effects are even more pronounced when examining the drop in nighttime temperature. The further from the equator and the higher the altitude, the greater the night-time temperature drop.

Latitude is in degrees, Temperatures are in Fahrenheit.

Lat.        DkBlue  LtBlue    Green    Yellow   Orange  Red        Brn         White

82.5       71           62           53           44           35           26           17           8

67.5       80           71           62           53           44           35           26           17

52.5       89           80           71           62           53           44           35           26

37.5       98           89           80           71           62           53           44           35

22.5       107        98           89           80           71           62           53           44

  7.5       116        107        98           89           80           71           62           53

Equator 120        111        102        93           84           75           66           57

  7.5       116        107        98           89           80           71           62           53

22.5       109        98           89           80           71           62           53           44

37.5       97           89           80           71           62           53           44           35

52.5       85           80           71           62           53           44           35           26

67.5       73           71           62           53           44           35           26           17

82.5       61           62           53           44           35           26           17           8

Nightime Drop in Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Lat.        DkBlue  LtBlue    Green    Yellow   Orange  Red        Brown   White

82.50     -31.0      -35.8      -45.5      -55.2      -64.9      -74.6      -84.3      -94.0

67.50     -28.5      -33.0      -41.9      -50.8      -59.7      -68.6      -77.5      -86.4

52.50     -26.0      -30.1      -38.2      -46.3      -54.4      -62.6      -70.7      -78.8

37.50     -23.5      -27.2      -34.5      -41.9      -49.2      -56.5      -63.9      -71.2

22.50     -21.0      -24.3      -30.8      -37.4      -44.0      -50.5      -57.1      -63.7

7.50       -18.5      -21.4      -27.2      -33.0      -38.7      -44.5      -50.3      -56.1

0.00       -16.0      -18.5      -23.5      -28.5      -33.5      -38.5      -43.5      -48.5

7.5         -18.5      -21.4      -27.2      -33.0      -38.7      -44.5      -50.3      -56.1

22.5       -21.0      -24.3      -30.8      -37.4      -44.0      -50.5      -57.1      -63.7

37.5       -23.5      -27.2      -34.5      -41.9      -49.2      -56.5      -63.9      -71.2

52.5       -26.0      -30.1      -38.2      -46.3      -54.4      -62.6      -70.7      -78.8

67.5       -28.5      -33.0      -41.9      -50.8      -59.7      -68.6      -77.5      -86.4

82.5       -31.0      -35.8      -45.5      -55.2      -64.9      -74.6      -84.3      -94.0

About a third of the planet has freezing temperatures most nights.

Affects of altitude.

Even as 'sea level', the atmospheric pressure in Araxes is less than 77% of terrestrial standard, which most people can adjust to within a week or so. Most of the northern hemisphere can be withstood with only initial discomfort while their bodies adjust to the thinner atmosphere. Almost 90% of the southern hemisphere, most people require some assistance breathing.

DkBlue  0 metres              11.3 psi 76.9 % Standard Newcomers need a week or two to adjust

LtBlue    800 metres          10.4 psi 70.5 % Standard Newcomers need a couple weeks or more to adjust

Green    1600 metres       9.5 psi   64.4 % Standard Most newcomers need a month or so to adjust

Yellow   2400 metres       8.6 psi   58.6 % Standard Minor mechanical oxygen support to function.

Orange  3200 metres       7.8 psi   53.1 % Standard Moderate mechanical oxygen support to function.

Red        4000 metres       7.1 psi   48.4 % Standard Major mechanical oxygen support to function.

Brown   4800 metres       6.5 psi   43.9 % Standard Most people need oxygen to stay conscious.

White    5600 metres       5.2 psi   35.4 % Standard Most people need oxygen to stay alive.