1 Uranus takes 84 years to orbit the Sun once, so one year
on the planet is 84 Earth years.2 Like on Earth, each season lasts for 25 % of the year, so
one season on Uranus, including
the winter, lasts for 21 years.3 As the planet is lying on its side, its northern
hemisphere will see no sunlight
in the winter and vice versa.On Uranus on the outskirts of the Solar
System, an 84-year-long orbit causes
summers and winters to last for years.The summer has lasted several years, but
now, a long and dark winter is coming up in
Game of Thrones. The same phenomenon is
observed on the ice giant of Uranus.
The eight planets of our Solar System are
orbiting the Sun at the same plane, at the
same time rotating their own axes. Earth’s
axis of rotation tilts 23.5 degrees, affecting
the planet’s seasons. Uranus’ axis of rotation
tilts no less than 98 degrees, so in practice,
the planet is rolling around the Sun. When
the southern hemisphere faces the Sun
directly, the northern hemisphere is left in
total darkness. As Uranus takes 84 years to
orbit the Sun, each season lasts 21 years –
including the dark winter.Are long winters
possible?
For 8,000 years, a 200-m-high ice wall has acted as
an unyielding bulwark against the wildlings in
Game of Thrones. In the real world, an ice wall of
this size would slide down the hill.
When ice is subjected to pressure, a
phenomenon known as regelation occurs. When
the pressure is sufficiently intensified, the ice
melts, not matter the temperature. This is the
phenomenon producing meltwater at the foot of
glaciers, making them move.
In Game of Thrones’ cold northern regions,
you will find the giant Wun Wun, who helps
out in the struggle against the White
Walkers. Several real animals also grow
bigger in cold surroundings.
Sea spiders often only measure a few cm
across, but near Antarctica, they are up to
0.5-m-big. Nobody knows why, but according
to scientists, it is due to increased oxygen
content and low metabolisms.How tall can an ice wall be? Does cold cause growth?
NORMAL
SEA SPIDERSEA SPIDER NEAR ANTARCTICANORTHERN
HEMISPHERE SUMMER
HEMISPHERE NORTHERN
WINTERSPRINGAUTUMN2007202820492070Like the giants of the series,
sea spiders etc. are bigger in
the cold regions of the world.A 200-m-high ice wall would
not remain for long, as its
bottom would melt.CLAUS LUNAUHBO NORDICHBO NORDIC