Planetary Classification
Introduction
Modifying Canon for the Modern World
Planetary Classifications
Class C (Chthonian)
A Class E Planet
Class D (Dead)
Class E (Elastic/Exothermic)
Class F (Frozen)
Class G (Geoinactive)
Class H (Harsh)
Class I (Ice Giant/Neptunian)
Class J (Jovian/Jupiter Gas Giant)
Class K (K'vara)
Class L (Limited)
Class M (Minshara/Habitable)
Calidic Subtype
Calidic planets are hot for their classification and could be steaming jungles of high humidity temperatures, or baked deserts, yet they retain enough water and habitability to avoiding slipping into Class H or Class L status. Such worlds would be, by Earth standards, "Hothouse" or "Greenhouse" worlds.
Furenic Subtype
Furenic worlds of the Class M type are noted as having large, long-lasting and particularly powerful storm and wind events. Their atmospheres tend to be turbulent.
Gelidic Subtype
Gelidic Class M Worlds are locked into persistently cooler temperatures, creating expanded continental and oceanic glaciation. While not yet a Class P "Snowball Earth," a Gelidic world is near-permanently in an "Ice Age."
Gracilic Subtype
Gracilic Class M worlds have thin but breathable atmospheres. They may have close-hugging atmospheres with sea-level like conditions that rapidly become unhabitable at higher terrains, or else sea-level atmosphere of the planet is similar to 3,000 meters above sea level on Earth.
Iugosic Subtype
Iugosic worlds have extremely mountainous terrain, often rapidly rising from any sea, ocean or lake. Such worlds tend to create varied "pocket climates" in habitable valleys but have very little land at sea level.
Lacustric Subtype
Lacustric Class M worlds have most of their surface water locked up in rivers, lakes, and inland seas. Such worlds have very few (if any) expansive oceans.
Lutosic Subtype
Lutosic Class M worlds have thick atmospheres that usually obscure much of the planet's surface, and have increased air pressure. Often these worlds have dense and humid atmospheres. Habitability to a Human comfort level can likely be attained at a higher elevation. Lutosic subtypes may have plants, but those plants likely rely on a source of energy other than the sun. Lutosic worlds are also (usually) observed to have low light levels.
Paludal Subtype
Paludal Class M worlds are noted for having a high percentage of low-lying, near or at sea-level terrain which is often marshy or swampy. More than 75% of the planet's land is low-lying.
Pelagic Subtype
Pelagic Class M worlds are approaching Class O status and have surfaces dominated by oceans to a degree that 85% of the surface is under water.
Suptic/Cenotic Subtype
These unusual worlds possess Class M environments below the planet's surface- usually in extensive cavern systems. A great deal of the planet's water is subterranean but accessible in nature. The surface of such a world may or may not be condusive to life, but has a breathable atmosphere.
Tundric Subtype
Tundric Class M worlds are not Class P and are not Gelidic, but are prone to or in the process of entering an Ice Age.
Vadumic Subtype
Vadumic Class M worlds have unusually shallow oceans, often less than a kilometer deep, and at least 25% of the ocean is under less than 100m of water.
Xeric Subtype
Xeric subtypes of Class M planets are arid for the standard and have less water than the standard. They are not yet defined as Class H.