roshar Roshar Poles and Climate

[Shatter He/Him]

Why is the eastern side (Frostlands) of the Rosharian supercontinent cold, the middle-east temperate (Alethkar), the central region (Azir) a desert, and the western side (Shinovar) more tropical? Is he magnetic pole on the side or something and that is the North noted on the map?

[alder24]

41 minutes ago, Kiriv Velonall said:

Why is the eastern side (Frostlands) of the Rosharian supercontinent cold, the middle-east temperate (Alethkar), the central region (Azir) a desert, and the western side (Shinovar) more tropical? Is he magnetic pole on the side or something and that is the North noted on the map?

Roshar doesn't have a standard magnetic field fueled by the dynamo effect in its core - there is no tectonic activity on Roshar, there is most likely no active core on Roshar. Whole Roshar was artificially created this way by Adonalsium, Shinovar was later created to resemble Ashyn.

I don't think climate has much to do with magnetic poles, rather than with axial tilt (which is 0 on Roshar), latitude, ocean currents and mountain ranges. But Roshar has continent sized hurricanes coming every few days so we can throw all of this into a trash can - except ocean currents I guess. The colder water from the southern pole is carried by currents towards the southern tip of Roshar - Frostlands - and that's why it's "cold". Hotter waters from the equator are carried into the Reshi sea, making this area hot. Azir is a bit deserted because there are relatively few rivers there - less water for plants to grow - and being separated on three sides by massive mountains doesn't help. The highstorms are also much stronger on the eastern side of the continent, so vegetation on the western side can be more lush.

In the end I don't think we will find an answer to this question. It was just made this way and that's it. 

Spoiler

Neuxue

Does Roshar have a magnetic field?  

Brandon Sanderson

Um, Roshar, magnetic field, yes, it does. Yes. Yeah it does  

Neuxue

You said at one point that it is all one plate--  

Brandon Sanderson

Yes.

Neuxue

--that there's no tectonic activity. What is the interior of the planet like?  

Brandon Sanderson

That’s a good question... You're not going to get an answer on that one. It's a weird planet, let's just say that. It's a pretty weird planet

Neuxue

Are the diamonds naturally occurring?  

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, but most are going to be-- They aren't-- all gemstones are naturally occurring, but most of, many or most of, the gems they are getting they are getting from creatures that grow them, not from the rock. Though there are mines on Roshar, you just have to-- most of them are on the leeward side of mountains, where the crem isn't being deposited.

Neuxue

So, diamond mines are about tectonics--

Brandon Sanderson

It was a created planet, keep that in mind.

Shadows of Self London UK signing (Oct. 19, 2015)

 

Spoiler

Trae

On Roshar, because of there's no tectonic activity, it would suggest that it's possible that the magnetic dynamo inside doesn't create enough of a magnetosphere to protect life from solar radiation, so my question is, do the highstorms function as a form of protection against solar radiation?

Brandon Sanderson

That's an excellent question.

Bystander

That's a RAFO. *laughter*

Brandon Sanderson

That's a really cool question.

JordanCon 2016 (April 23, 2016)

 

Spoiler

Overlord Jebus

Was just the continent of Roshar created by Adonalsium or was the whole system created?

Brandon Sanderson

Whole system was created.

Emerald City Comic Con 2018 (March 1, 2018)

 

Spoiler

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Seasons on Roshar are based around the storms (ie long lighter storms in the winter, short stronger storms in the summer) rather than time or temperature

Temperature stays fairly constant because of the lack of an axial tilt

Despite not having traditional seasons they have the concept of seasons which must have come from somewhere else (read as: cosmere shenanigans)

A Memory of Light Seattle Signing (Feb. 12, 2013)

 

[Treamayne]

2 hours ago, Kiriv Velonall said:

(Frostlands) of the Rosharian supercontinent cold

@alder24 gave a great synopsis. I would just like to note that the Shattered Plains and Frostlands are repeatedly referenced as being "hills" and implied to be a not insignificant higher altitude than Alethkar. Altitude will already have an effect on climate, but in a low gravity, high oxygen environment I would expect temperature to be more greatly affected by elevation. Real life example - Albuquerque NM, considered by most to be in a "desert" area of the US gets snow in the winter and is classified (the other wiki):

Quote

Albuquerque's climate is classified as a cold semi-arid climate (BSk) according to the Köppen climate classification system

Also, please consider that on a planet without axial tilt and no true seasons - what is "cold" can be very subjective. 60 degrees to somebody at the Tropic of Cancer (or the Tropic of Capricorn 23 deg latitude N/S) is very different than 60 degrees to somebody from 30 or 40 degrees latitiude (much less Arctic/Antarctic circles at 66 degrees latitude).

So, for example, despite all of the "Frostlands is cold" comments in Words fo Radiance - Shallan, without boots, did not suffer frostbite (but was shown needing to heal cuts on her feet). It's entirely possible that a 10 degree dip in temperature is enough for Rosharans (Alethi?) to call it a "winter season." When you are used to a year-long constant temperature, any variation is going to be more noticible.

Spoiler

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Seasons on Roshar are based around the storms (ie long lighter storms in the winter, short stronger storms in the summer) rather than time or temperature

Temperature stays fairly constant because of the lack of an axial tilt

Despite not having traditional seasons they have the concept of seasons which must have come from somewhere else (read as: cosmere shenanigans)

A Memory of Light Seattle Signing (Feb. 12, 2013)