Ammoniac Atmosphere: Difference between revisions

Line 17:

The '''Ammoniac Atmosphere''' defines the frigid gas envelopes of outer-Continuum worlds — immense, swirling chemistries of hydrogen and ammonia wrapped in perpetual twilight.

It is the **archetype of Jovian cold worlds**, where heat is a memory, color comes from chemistry, and clouds build mountains that float.

It is the '''archetype of Jovian cold worlds''', where heat is a memory, color comes from chemistry, and clouds build mountains that float.

== Composition and Structure ==

Line 24:

The result is a stratified, layered gas ocean — each tier a different phase of ammonia and water ice suspended in supercritical hydrogen.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center;"

|-~~-----------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------|~~

! Layer

! Primary Composition

! Approx. Temp. (K)

! Notes

|-

| '''Upper Stratosphere'''

| NH₃ vapor, H₂, He

| 110–130

| Pale blue, semi-transparent; violent winds.

|-

| '''Middle Troposphere'''

| NH₃–H₂O clouds

| 130–150

| Thick storm belts; ammonia snow.

|-

| '''Deep Mantle'''

| Supercritical H₂, NH₃, CH₄

| 150–180

| Luminous lightning discharges; ionized gas layer.

|}

== Environmental Characteristics ==

* **Pressure:** 12–40 atm — increasing exponentially with depth.

* '''Pressure:''' 12–40 atm — increasing exponentially with depth.

* **Temperature:** 110–180 K — stable across the troposphere.

* '''Temperature:''' 110–180 K — stable across the troposphere.

* **Visuals:** Blue-gray with violet undertones; constant banded cloud motion.

* '''Visuals:''' Blue-gray with violet undertones; constant banded cloud motion.

* **Acoustics:** Deep resonant thunder; infrasonic wavelengths dominate.

* '''Acoustics:''' Deep resonant thunder; infrasonic wavelengths dominate.

* **Aroma:** Sharp and alkaline — detectable even through vacuum-rated filters.

* '''Aroma:''' Sharp and alkaline — detectable even through vacuum-rated filters.

== Atmospheric Phenomena ==

* **Ammonia Snow:** Microscopic NH₃ crystals fall from mid-cloud decks, evaporating before surface impact.

* '''Ammonia Snow:''' Microscopic NH₃ crystals fall from mid-cloud decks, evaporating before surface impact.

* **Electro-Ammonic Storms:** High-pressure lightning arcs between layers, forming kilometer-wide plasma curtains.

* '''Electro-Ammonic Storms:''' High-pressure lightning arcs between layers, forming kilometer-wide plasma curtains.

* **Floating Icebergs:** Buoyant clumps of ammonia-water ice drift through mid-atmosphere, acting as seeds for cloud vortices.

* '''Floating Icebergs:''' Buoyant clumps of ammonia-water ice drift through mid-atmosphere, acting as seeds for cloud vortices.

* **Acoustic Rings:** Standing wave patterns circling entire planets; believed to modulate magnetic fields.

* '''Acoustic Rings:''' Standing wave patterns circling entire planets; believed to modulate magnetic fields.

== Biochemical Potential ==

While hostile to standard biology, Ammoniac environments support theoretical **chemoautotrophic life** utilizing the “hydronitric cycle.”

While hostile to standard biology, Ammoniac environments support theoretical '''chemoautotrophic life''' utilizing the “hydronitric cycle.”

In this cycle, organisms synthesize energy by converting NH₃ and H₂ into amino analogs under high pressure, producing faint infrared bioluminescence.

Speculative forms — nicknamed *drifters* — are vast, translucent sacs kilometers wide, feeding on storm energy.

Line 50:

Line 67:

== Thermal and Reflective Properties ==

Ammoniac worlds reflect ~60% of incoming light due to their dense clouds, making them bright to telescopes but dim in infrared.

The [[Grand Archive Division of Exoatmospherics]] notes that their refractive spectra are stable enough to serve as **galactic calibration standards** for optical sensors.

The [[Grand Archive Division of Exoatmospherics]] notes that their refractive spectra are stable enough to serve as '''galactic calibration standards''' for optical sensors.

== Research and Cultural Notes ==