Populus Geology

 Populus Cools

Like many other planets, Populus began as a molten ball of rock hurtling around a star.  As the mass of rock began to cool, the densest materials migrated to the center, while the lighter materials moved towards the surface.  The lightest materials eventually cooled and formed the planet's crust, which is the rigid outer layer of the planet's surface.  The dense, molten rock which makes up the planet's interior is still in the process of cooling.   As this molten material cools, it moves according to convection and forces the planet's crust to move along with it.

 

 The surface of Populus is comprised of many different pieces or "plates" that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.  The areas where the plates come together are known as plate boundaries.  As you can see on the left, there are three types of plate boundaries.  A boundary where the plates are sliding side by side is known as a transform boundary.  Boundaries where the plates are moving away from each other are known as divergent boundaries, and boundaries where the plates are coming together are know as convergent boundaries.  Look at the map and see if you can find and identify one of unlabeled boundaries! 

Populus also has a "hot spot"  which is an area where super hot magma pierces through the crust and causes volcanic eruptions. 

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The Continents

 

Durin

Durin is the largest and most diverse continent on Populus.  The most interesting feature of Durin is the enormous fresh-water lake in its interior.  The lake, which is commonly referred to as the Durin Sea, is believed to have been formed by an ancient meteor crater.  The crater has been weathered over several hundred thousand years, and now the borders of the crater are barely distinguishable.   The only trace of the meteor's impact is the high levels of foreign minerals that can be found in the rocks and soils surrounding the Durin Sea.  Durin's Northern mountains were formed by volcanic activity and uplifting due to the convergent plate boundary off of its northern coast.  The Southern mountains were also formed by volcanic activity, but these volcanoes are the result of a hot spot. 

 

Gloen

Although Gloen is the smallest continent on Populus, it offers a wide variety of environments for plants and wildlife.  Gloen's diversity can be attributed to its drastic elevation changes, along with its changes in latitude.  The mountains of Gloen (just like the mountains of Northern Durin) were formed by volcanic activity and uplifting due to a convergent plate boundary.

 

 Fridgenai

Fridgenia, like most polar continents, is a land of extreme temperatures.  Most of Fridgenia is covered in thick glaciers which have been growing for centuries.    Fridgenia is also unique on Populus for being the only continent that is free of volcanic activity.

 

The Oceans

 

 As you can see from this map, most of Populus' surface is covered with water.  The oceans on Populus are generally very deep, but some areas of shallow water can be found around the planet's three continents.  The ocean currents on Populus can be rather strong.  This is due to the fact that there is very little land to impede the movement of the oceans and seas.  The most biologically diverse waters on Populus can be found where the three main bodies of water meet (between Durin and Gloen).  This area of shallow tropical water supports a wide variety of ocean life.

 

Cross-Section of Populus

 

The map and graph that follow illustrate the drastic elevation changes that characterize

the surface and ocean floor of Populus.  Please note that the elevation graph is not drawn to scale!  The actual mountain slopes aren't nearly as steep as they appear in the graph.

 

 

Go on to Climate

 

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