Westeros is renowned for its unpredictable and lengthy seasons, which have puzzled both its inhabitants and fans of Game of Thrones. Unlike Earth, where seasons follow a regular pattern due to the planet's axial tilt, Westeros experiences summers and winters that can last for many years, even decades. So, what could explain these unusual seasonal cycles?
Astrophysical Hypotheses
One theory suggests that the erratic seasons of Westeros could be caused by a planetary wobble, similar to what we see on Uranus.
Uranus has an extreme axial tilt, leading to prolonged periods of summer and winter. However, this kind of wobble typically causes changes over thousands of years, not the shorter timescales seen in Westeros.
Milankovitch Cycles and Climate Patterns
Another plausible explanation involves Milankovitch cycles, which are long-term variations in the orbit and axial tilt of a planet, causing glacial and interglacial periods.
These cycles could create the seemingly random and prolonged seasons in Westeros. The superposition of multiple Milankovitch cycles might result in the erratic seasonal lengths observed, as these cycles can interact in complex ways to produce unpredictable climate patterns over centuries.
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