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Weather and Climate for Worldbuilding: a Master Guide for Fiction Writers

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Weather and Climate for Worldbuilding: a Master Guide for Fiction Writers Weather and Climate for Worldbuilding: A Master Guide for Fiction Writers MY PLANET’S ATMOSPHERE 1. What is the composition? 2. How many layers will it have? 3. What is the distance between layers? 4. What is the distance from my planet’s surface to the outermost layer of the atmosphere? (Earth’s is about 100km) 5. Is the atmospheric surface pressure at sea level greater or lower compared to Earth’s? If greater, how will my human characters cope with with these high pressures? Do they wear special suits? Do they live in special structures that resemble Earth’s atmospheric conditions? Is the pressure too high or is it withstandable? If lower pressure, how will my characters physically adapt to these conditions? 6. What’s the temperature on and near your planet’s surface (first layer of your atmosphere)? Is it hotter or colder than Earth’s? How so? 7. Will my planet have a greenhouse effect? 8. Is it a runaway greenhouse effect? If so, how did it occur? Naturally or by human activity? Think about climate change issues associated with air pollution. 9. Was this planet terraformed? If so, explain how the atmosphere was built. Try detail as much as you can. This is valuable backstory. Insolation 1. How much insolation reaches the atmosphere? 2. How does insolation vary with time and latitude? Use your key continents and cities. 3. Does your planet have insolation issues that need to be addressed asap? Explain what your people will do about it? WWW.ZUQUITABRITO.COM Seasons: Answer the following questions for each main city in your story: 1. Name of the city and continent 2. Is it located in the northern or southern hemisphere? 3. Is it on a high mountain range or near the coast? 4. Between which major latitudes is this city and continent located? 5. How many seasons do regions on this latitude experience? 6. What is the average insolation for the city for each season and throughout the day? 7. How will my characters mark the December and June solstice? 8. On what day does it occur? For instance, on Earth it’s on December 21st and June 21st. 9. Did any traditions stem from these dates? Do your people celebrate solstices? How? 10. Explain what winter looks like in this city. Write it from a native’s POV and a foreigner’s POV. What does it smell and feel like? What are the usual harvests? What do people wear? What do people usually eat? Do they practice any sports? 11. How does this season influence your character’s mood? 12. Repeat question 9 for summer, spring, and autumn. Atmospheric Moisture: Likewise, answer these questions for each main city: 1. In what direction does the wind usually flow? Does it occur more at a certain time of day and year? Explain. 2. Is your city located near a low-pressure or high-pressure zone? 3. What type of trade wind occurs in this city? 4. Describe your cities humidity for each season. Daily, at what time is it the worse? Write how it feels for a native and for a foreigner. Try using characters from the story. This will enrich character and setting. 5. Is this city located on the windward, top, or leeward side of a mountain range? 6. Is this city foggy at certain time of day and year? Explain. 7. How much does it rain? Does it experience monsoons? Droughts? How do characters prepare? WWW.ZUQUITABRITO.COM Weather Systems: 1. What type of air masses are over or near my main setting? 2. How often do thunderstorms occur and when are they more frequent? 3. What about blizzards? 4. Tornadoes? 5. Hurricanes? 6. How do your characters prepare and react to the weather systems? 7. Do they believe it’s some sort of supernatural punishment? 8. Are there legends associated with weather systems? 9. How harsh are they compared to Earth’s? 10. Describe them from your main character’s POV. Climates: 1. What is your main settings climate? 2. Describe the temperature and moisture. 3. What type of vegetation is most likely? 4. Describe the climate from your main character’s POV. WWW.ZUQUITABRITO.COM WWW.ZUQUITABRITO.COM .
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