planetology
Our only case study
how things (probably) went on earth
- period of chaos in emerging solar system
- the moon
- cooled earth and basalt
- oceans
- continents and beginnings of tectonic activity
- glaciation
Geosphere
- surface formation
- internal structure and processes
- plate tectonics
- geologic provinces, mineral deposits & soils
Implementing
implementing plate tectonics - some cheats for reverse engineering
The most realistic way to do this would be to start with some primordial cratons and build from there; here is a tutorial on how to do this using GPlates. However, I realize most of us (myself definitely included) have at least a vague notion of the map we want to work with, and so end up kind of working backwards and forwards simultaneously. It’s not impossible, but it will keep you on your toes for a while.
Some points to keep in mind:
- Remember that the continents are not floating on top of the oceans: you need to account for the entire surface, not just the stuff that’s above the water. It may be helpful to picture the ocean floor as the part that’s moving, and any collisions of continents as by-products of that.
- Remember that you’re working on the surface of a sphere. The movement of your continents is not constricted in any way by the edges of your map! Make heavy use of a tool like MapToGlobe so that you can better visualize this at all times.
- Don’t panic if your existing landmasses don’t line up well – it’s the edges of the continental shelves that need to line up, and sea levels are always changing.
geological resources - deposits and distribution
Hydrosphere
- ocean circulation
- tides
- groundwater
- surface waters, fluvial processes
Implementing
Atmosphere
Implementing
Climate
köppen classification scheme, trewartha modifications, holdridge life zones
Tropical climates
- Af: tropical wet
- desc
- Am: tropical monsoon
- desc
- Aw & As: tropical savannah
- desc
Arid climates
- BWh: subtropical or hot desert
- desc
- BSh: subtropical or hot steppe
- desc
- BWk: midlatitude or cold desert
- desc
- BSk: midlatitude or cold steppe
- desc
Temperate climates
- Csa: hot summer mediterranean
- desc
- Csb: warm summer mediterranean
- desc
- Csc: cold summer mediterranean
- desc
- Cwa: humid subtropical
- desc
- Cwb: subtropical highland
- desc
- Cwc: temperate highland
- desc
- Cfa: humid subtropical
- desc
- Cfb: temperate oceanic
- desc
- Cfc: subpolar oceanic
- desc
Continental climates
- Dfa & Dsa: hot summer humid continental
- desc
- Dfb & Dsb: warm summer humid continental
- desc
- Dfc & Dsc: subarctic humid
- desc
- Dfd & Dsd: extreme subarctic
- desc
- Dwa: hot Manchurian
- desc
- Dwb: warm Manchurian
- desc
- Dwc: subarctic Manchurian
- desc
- Dwd: extreme subarctic Manchurian
- desc
Polar climates
- ET: tundra
- desc
- EF: ice cap
- desc
Marine biomes
- seagrass meadows
- kelp forests
- coral reefs