>
> Well met!
>
>
> > Which is due, of course, to the fact that the sun is hotter (and
> > brighter, and larger) in the summer and colder (and dimmer) in
the winter.
>
> Mythic, but OK. It's a simple explanation. I don't know if it's
> necessary to cycle the solar power level; if the days are longer in
> summer and shorter in winter, the different weather may simply be due
> to getting more solar energy in summer and less in winter-just like on
> earth.
>
> If the solar heat's on for 16 hours, and off for 8, you get warmer
> weather. If the solar heats on for 8 hours and off for 16, you get
> cooler weather, without having to jigger the heater output.
>
>
>
> > >Yelm's path arcs far up north during summer, and far down south
> > > during winter (so it can actally be Summer in Pamaltela when it's
> > > winter in Genertela).
> >
> > The sun does move its arc north in the summer and south in the
winter,
> > in relation to the sky dome; AND the dome tilts farther south---much
> > farther---in the winter.
>
>
> OK. These two explanations appear to be mutually exclusive. One
> explains seasons in terms of varying solar output, one in terms of
> varying solar paths (like axial tilt on earth.) Varying the solar
> path contradicts the statement that the sun appears directly overhead
> everywhere at noon.
>
I don't think they are exclusive, but rather complimentary, to get
something similar to what we see on earth.
Like you said, position in the sky (how far north or south) does not
do much to explain seasonal variations--especially since the mortal
inhabited part of Glorantha is roughly flat. So the reason that all
of Glorantha has the same seasons at the same time is the varying
strength of the sun. However, in the north this is accented by two
things:
- the sun being farther south, dropping the energy per unit area by a
few more percent
- the sky dome tilting and letting the cold in along the northern edge.
In the south the inverse happens, which is why there is much less
seasonal variation in Pameltea (until you get way down south, and the
tilting of the sky dome lets the fire in)
At least, I think that makes sense?
--Bryan