Climate Models Uncover Fantastical Climates
Scientists have employed advanced climate models, typically used for forecasting Earth's future warming, to simulate the climates of various fictional realms. This research aims to provide new details for fantasy worlds, communicate fundamental climate science to a broad audience, and enhance understanding of climate model physics by observing their behavior in fantastical settings.
Notable simulated worlds include J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, Westeros from George R.R. Martin's "Game of Thrones," the far-future Earth in "The Wheel of Time" series, and a newly developed fictional world named Terrios.
Bridging Fantasy and Climate Science
The study merges literary worldbuilding with climate modeling, drawing upon the concept that storytellers, as "sub-creators" (a term proposed by J.R.R. Tolkien), construct fictional realms with consistent internal laws. This approach aligns with the "principle of minimal departure," where readers assume non-magical elements within these worlds adhere to real-world laws.
Researchers utilized complex computer programs, identical to those used for forecasting Earth's future climate, to model these fantasy environments.
This exercise serves several key purposes, from enriching fictional worlds to enhancing scientific understanding.
- Providing new details on fictional worlds beyond authorial descriptions.
- Offering a new method to communicate fundamental climate science physics to a broad audience.
- Aiding in the understanding of climate model physics by exploring their behavior in fantastical settings.
Simulating Middle-earth's Climate
For J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, researchers meticulously input detailed maps, including topography and ocean depth, into an advanced climate model. Assuming Middle-earth represents Earth at a distant past point, its physical parameters—such as planetary radius, rotation rate, and distance from the Sun—were set to Earth's values.
The simulation predicted a climate similar to Western Europe and North Africa, strikingly consistent with Tolkien's geographical inspirations.
Key findings included:
- Highest precipitation was predicted for the Misty Mountains and areas to their west.
- A drier "rain-shadow" effect was observed to the east, resulting from westerly winds forcing moist air to rise and cool over the mountains, condensing water vapor into precipitation before reaching the eastern side.
- Extensive forest cover was predicted, aligning with lore suggesting squirrels could traverse much of Middle-earth without touching the ground.
This groundbreaking simulation, initially released in 2013 by climate scientist Dan Lunt, has been widely utilized by educators to explain complex weather and climate concepts using Middle-earth as an engaging setting.
Unraveling Westeros's Seasons
The study also addressed the unpredictable and prolonged seasons characteristic of Westeros from "Game of Thrones," which are integral to its narrative. Researchers focused on the idea of a chaotically varying axial tilt, a stark contrast to Earth's stable axial tilt, which provides regular seasons. A climate model was employed where the planet's axis "tumbled" throughout the year.
Results indicated that if the planet's axis tumbled exactly once per orbit, one hemisphere would permanently face the sun, resulting in a fixed season. On Earth, the moon's gravitational influence stabilizes the axial tilt.
The research suggests that Westeros's unique seasonal mysteries might be explained by an unstable axial tilt. This instability could potentially be linked to the legendary loss of a second moon in the world's lore, which could have destabilized the planet's axis.
Climate Models for New Worldbuilding
Climate models can also inform the creation of entirely new fantasy realms. As an example, climate communicator John Cook collaborated with climate scientists to simulate the climate of his fictional world, Terrios. This world was developed for an allegorical story about environmental damage.
The model provided specific details, such as temperature, precipitation, and wind conditions across various biomes. This process ensured internal consistency and significantly enhanced the immersive quality of the fictional world.
Broader Implications
Applying physics to fictional landscapes provides an engaging method to connect general audiences with complex environmental science. By using climate models in this manner, scientists uphold the principle that even fantastical worlds can maintain a credible balance between realistic laws and the fantastic.
The success of these simulated worlds suggests that the intersection of science and art can yield compelling discoveries and stories, enriching both scientific understanding and literary appreciation.