Polar Regions
From Reach
Contents |
History
Climate
The frozen polar regions are an oddity on the mostly hot planet of Reach. For reasons unknown, in the outermost parallels, the temperature rapidly drops, going from the warm temperate regions to sub zero temperatures over only a few parallels. Thick, high, constant clouds block most of the daylight, keeping the poles in perpetual shadow, and an unexplained force seems to actively segregate the polar winds from the rest of the planet, preventing most heat transfer by convection. This keeps the daytime temperature well below freezing over the entire polar area, and causes the rapid drop in temperature as one leaves the Temperate Belts.
Day to Day weather in the polar conditions is measured on three axis: cold, dark and hail size. Temperatures are always well below zero, so people are generally interested in only how long until frostbite. The clouds overhead never break, allowing little light during the day, and pitch darkness at night. Furthermore, the clouds frequently release heavy rainfall that freezes before it hits the ground, causing hail ranging in diameter from a few millimeters to several meters.
Flora and Fauna
Population
Most of the drinkable water on Reach comes from the glaciers. Water precipitation in most of the Temperate Belts isn't adequate to meet the colonist's needs, but some regions receive frequent Chemical Precipitation. In the Tropical Belts, colonists rely entirely on imported water. Much of the world needs water from the polar regions. Most of the colonies, understandably, are ice mines, which dig huge chunks of ice out the glacier and export them towards the equator.
Without much sunlight to grow crops, most polar colonies rely on Nutrifood, hydroponics, and the occasional roasted Howling Shadow for food.
