RICK JOHNSON'S
BARSOOMIAN ATLAS

THE WIND PATTERNS AND CLIMATE OF BARSOOM

by: Rick Johnson
PO Box 40451
Tucson, Az.
85717
RikJohnson@juno.com

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Were it not for Helium’s attempt to chart the winds of Barsoom which resulted in the Tharken attack upon that fleet and the capture of the princess Dejah Thoris, the history of Barsoom would have been far different. Yet, occasionally, scientific expeditions do take place. They are rare and often unsuccessful but the attempts are made.

The major jet stream on Barsoom flows east over the Olympis Mons and the Artolian Hills, then cuts southeast to cross over the Toonol Marsh then east along the equator until, past the Forest of lost Souls, it turns northeast to cross the Mons and the Artolians again. THIS is THE most important wind pattern upon Barsoom.
There are smaller eddies in the north over the once mighty Throxus which circulate in a circular motion. These were the blessing and bane of the ancient sailors.
The southern hemisphere has a westerly and smaller jet stream that flows west and creates the southern patterns.

The climate of Barsoom is today, fairly uniform. The reports of Captain John Carter and others show that from nearly the snow-clad north to nearly the snow-clad south, the land is uniformly hot during the day and cold at night. This is mainly because of the lack of oceans that regulate much of the Climate of Earth.
Although most of Barsoom is desert and hot, there is a thin band of temperate in the far north and far south, the northern being stable, the southern adjusting with the seasons.

The environment of Barsoom is mainly controlled by the major easterly jet-stream which picks up moisture from the Olympus Mons and the Artolian Hills, then flows south to drop much of its water onto the Toonolian Marsh. From here the jet stream flows until it reaches the Koal Forest where it drops more moisture then turns east to water the forest of Manator and Lost Souls. Then, relieved of the last of the moisture, the jet stream turns north to repeat the pattern. It is this remarkable fact that provides the three forests and marshes with their needed moisture, though it is remarkable that the further east you go, the dryer are the forests. Toonol being swamp, Koal being wet forest, Manator being dry forest and Lost Souls being desert forest.
It is unfortunate that the winds off the Artolian Hills pass over the Ptarth Plains, denying them much needed rain.

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To contact me or to request topics to be covered, send to RikJohnson@juno.com
by: Rick Johnson
PO Box 40451
Tucson, Az.
85717