In which Ian demonstrates MUCH more knowlege of cliamate and weather
than I have -- either that or he's got more buzzwords. =)
>
> me
> >> winter temperatures are 50 degress F, and summer 100
> >> degress Farenheit, not quite the bleak midwinter that HW
> implies.
>
> > One might also point out that that is pretty old info. And I'd be
> > thinking they are day-time information. Otherwise if its mean --
> > that
> > summer temperature cannot be an average...
>
> tempertures are daytime maximums. Nighttime is about 60 degrees in
> summer , rarely above freezing in winter. No indication of how low
> it goes in winter, but otherwise the temperature range would indicate
> a temperate zone climate (just like where I live - well probably a
> bit more like Wales or Cumbria, London is sea level and a city).
Okay, that's what I thought. I'm more used to metric. We have about a 15 C drop each night in temperature (Call it 30 F) from the daytime high. I'd suspect that in winter you
And Battle valley is a borderline desert/arid region -- without a lot of water to act as a moderator, you get wild temperature swings. Sort of like the desert. Freeze/Bake on a 24 hour cycle.
> > If you'd ever climed mountains or travelled a lot in rough terrain,
> > its frightening what a few thousand feet can do for your
> frostbite.
>
> Battle valley is at 500m Nearby hills range from 800m to 1000m (six
> sisters) with the highest point being the finger at 1300m.
I didn't think Battle valley was that far up, but we have the highlands making a barrier to the west
> The saturated adiabatic lapse rate is approx 1.35 degrees F per 500 m
> (1500 feet), so its going there is not as much difference between the
> valley and hills due to altitiude as you think. Wind chill will be
> more of a factor as on the hills as you are far more exposed than in
> the nice sheltered valley. Inside a building this is OK but outside
Forest cover makes enen more so. Forests and woodlands retain heat/shed heat more effeciently but then Battle Valley is not exactly forested. Too many trolls. Wind chill is a big factor, yes. But I had thought there was a much larger change.
However, I would note that the difference over a 5000' distance is dramatic -- 10 F does not sound like much but as I said -- the top of the Grand Canyon is boreal forest. The bottom is desert. And the walk down the side had all the variations in between.
> it may represent a life threatening problem. It is wind chill that
> kills more often that absolute temperature, which is why shelter is
> so important.
Yes, this is true! However.
> In dry air the lapse rate reaches 2.7 degrees F per 500m, but 'dry'
> air (i.i 0% humidity) is almost non-existant, however on a dry
> winters day temperatures 500 m up might fall by say 2 degrees F.
Still, with rain shadow, and the warm winds coming up from the sea we're going to get *nasty* snowfall. But its mostly due to the elevation, I think.
> Any idea high the Quivini region is?
I seem to recall that the region about Apple Lane is 4000' above sea level. That whole plateau and hilly region is supposedly very elevated.
> > The Quivini and Stormwalk mountains make a very nice rain-shadow
> for
> > the Praxian desert. Just ask anyone from BC or Calfornia about
> > rain-shadow.
>
> The description, I'll post it to the Hero Wars list some time soon
> does suggest that about one out of every 4 years in Battle valley is
> a drought, and yes all that precipatation will be dumped on the west
> side of the Quivini's as warm climbs to pass over them.
That would be about right for a proper rain-shadow. Though, again, what constitutes a drought in that area would be a lot more severe in, say, Lismelder terrain.
> > Just looking at a few "Real World" examples. Weather and Climate
> are
> > much more varied than the average city dweller would think. Me? I
> > spent 5 years as a field geologist experiencing 'climate modified
> by
> > geography' at its most vicious.
>
> Probably been good for your 'Tough' score though :-)
>
> Ian
Indeed! Also, Solitary, Actually He Likes Rocks, and What On Earth Am I Doing HERE? abilties. Oh, and my 'Land Softly' ability.
On a plus note, Greg mentioned that there's a *large* section on Dragon Pass climate and weather in the upcomming Thunder Rebels book.
Hope this helps,
Jeff
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