Xeric Subtype

Moderately dry Earthlike world

Xeric World Cenote)
Image from Steve Bowers
Cenote, a xeric world with limestone caves, indicating a wetter past
Gaian Type world in which water covers 10 to 25% of the surface. A continental climate prevails, dominated by arid conditions. Though the poles may be cold, precipitation is rare. The oceans may be quite saline. Life may be common.
See also TundralXeric, HyperXeric, AreanXeric subtypes
 
Related Articles
  • HyperXeric Subtype
  • Non-Luminary World Classification Scheme
  • TundralXeric Subtype - Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
    Gaian Type world with a cold climate, with an average temperature of around -50 °C. Oceanic ice, even near the equator, can be up to 1 kilometer thick or greater. With almost no precipitation the continents are barren dry wastelands. On land life is restricted to microbial forms, while in the oceans it is typically found only around hot springs and thermal vents.
 
Appears in Topics
Planetology
 
Development Notes
Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List

Initially published on 31 December 2007.