re: Crackpot ASOIAF Theories SPOILERS

From a few pages ago:

quote:

---

GRRM has promised an explanation for the haywire seasons. He claims it even makes sense

---

My dime-store scientific opinion:

the only reason the Earth has seasons is it's tilted axis. I would assume a planet without any tilt, and in a semi-circular orbit, would then have separate but consistent climate conditions per geographic location. (Dorne vs LoAW)
The only climate changes would therefore have to be based on this planet's orbit, specifically it's period and apogee / perigee - for example, lets say it takes their planet 100 earth years to complete one cycle, with an extremely elliptical orbit. One could expect the majority of that cycle to be spent either on approach or away from its sun, (colder, darker) representing WINTER and a much shorter time near the sun, representing SUMMER.
Of course, a moon world orbiting a Gas Giant could represent a similar effect, but include long periods of total darkness during time spent in the giant's shadow. Only thing is, the Gas Giant should be visible almost all the time from the ground of this moon, and we've heard no mention of one. Besides, a moon orbiting a GG would never be able to hang on to its atmosphere.



Basic idea, where 1= midpoint of winter and 2= midpoint of summer, 3= sun

End science guy rant.