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Balaho: Difference between revisions
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==Topography== | ==Topography== | ||
[[File:H2A Terminals - Unggoy on Balaho.jpg|thumb|250px|left|An assault carrier over Balaho's surface]] | [[File:H2A Terminals - Unggoy on Balaho.jpg|thumb|250px|left|An assault carrier over Balaho's surface]] | ||
An unpredictable and dangerous world, Balaho is a mostly frozen planet with temperatures ranging from -33°C to 5°C (-27°F to 41°F).<ref name="Bestiarum"/> It has two [[natural satellite]]s, [[Buwan]] and [[Padpad]], respectively the primary and secondary satellites.<ref>[http://majornelson.com/2011/08/26/news-from-halo-fest/ '''Xbox Live's Major Nelson''': ''News From Halo Fest'']</ref> With an atmosphere rating of 5.7, the terrestrial planet has significant amounts of [[methane]] in the atmosphere, in addition to [[carbon dioxide]] and [[helium]], necessitating that Unggoy wear [[methane tank]]s while off-world. This gas forms a largely opaque layer of clouds that prevents much of the world from being seen from orbit.<ref name="Bestiarum"/> | An unpredictable and dangerous world, Balaho is a mostly frozen planet with temperatures ranging from -33°C to 5°C (-27°F to 41°F).<ref name="Bestiarum"/> It has two [[natural satellite]]s, [[Buwan]] and [[Padpad]], respectively the primary and secondary satellites.<ref>[http://majornelson.com/2011/08/26/news-from-halo-fest/ '''Xbox Live's Major Nelson''': ''News From Halo Fest'']</ref> With an atmosphere rating of 5.7, the terrestrial planet has significant amounts of [[methane]] in the atmosphere, in addition to [[carbon dioxide]] and [[helium]], necessitating that Unggoy wear [[methane tank]]s while off-world. This gas forms a largely opaque layer of clouds that prevents much of the world from being seen from orbit.<ref name="Bestiarum"/>{{Ref/Note|Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas (about 23 times stronger than carbon dioxide), making it very effective at insulating an atmosphere. As such, it is strange that Balaho is so cold when the planet's atmosphere is composed mainly of methane. The most likely explanation is that Balaho is much farther from Tala than most other habitable planets are from their stars and that is warm enough to support life because of its methane atmosphere. This also explains why the planet was not engulfed when Tala expanded into a blue supergiant.}} | ||
The parts of the surface that are not covered by polar ice caps or fresh [[water]] are equatorial brackish tidal flats where naturally occurring pillars of fire exist when the planet's methane condenses. Most of the Unggoy live in this area where the cold season is not as harmful to them. The planet is also home to several swamps and dire marshes.<ref name="warfleet"/><ref name="enc 308"/> The world is still recovering from an environmental collapse caused by massive global over-industrialization prior to the activation of the [[Halo Array]].<ref name="Bestiarum"/> Balaho continues to experience environmental degradation and has become increasingly less hospitable over the centuries. Balaho's severe exploitation by the [[Covenant]] has only caused the environment to suffer further.<ref name="warfleet"/> Until the Covenant's arrival, the planet's population was threatened by two consecutive winter seasons, plagues, and a general lack of food.<ref name="enc151">''Halo Encyclopedia'', p. 151</ref> [[Blue Death]] is a risk to all Unggoy that were exposed to Balaho's harsh climate.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', p. 237</ref> | The parts of the surface that are not covered by polar ice caps or fresh [[water]] are equatorial brackish tidal flats where naturally occurring pillars of fire exist when the planet's methane condenses. Most of the Unggoy live in this area where the cold season is not as harmful to them. The planet is also home to several swamps and dire marshes.<ref name="warfleet"/><ref name="enc 308"/> The world is still recovering from an environmental collapse caused by massive global over-industrialization prior to the activation of the [[Halo Array]].<ref name="Bestiarum"/> Balaho continues to experience environmental degradation and has become increasingly less hospitable over the centuries. Balaho's severe exploitation by the [[Covenant]] has only caused the environment to suffer further.<ref name="warfleet"/> Until the Covenant's arrival, the planet's population was threatened by two consecutive winter seasons, plagues, and a general lack of food.<ref name="enc151">''Halo Encyclopedia'', p. 151</ref> [[Blue Death]] is a risk to all Unggoy that were exposed to Balaho's harsh climate.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', p. 237</ref> | ||