Banded Clouds

Despite its thin atmosphere, Ammon’s cloud cover is similar in density to that of Earth. These clouds are formed primarily of anhydrous ammonia, which in its ice form is white. Due to the planet’s slow rotation, only a few weather cells form across the planet’s surface. Bands of higher ammonia density appear paler in color, whereas the lower-density clouds close to the planet’s surface acquire a rusted orange tinge from their higher concentration of nitrogen oxides.

These banded clouds create a striking visual effect from orbit. Against the mottled gold and blue of anhydrous ammonia lakes and seas, stripes of of white and red cluster around the equator, fading to sparser cloud coverage nearer the poles.

Such cloud systems were first observed on the Solan planet Jupiter, although its denser atmosphere and extreme range of temperatures results in a steadier pattern of bands and storms. Ammonian weather patterns can last for weeks, but will change several times over the course of a year.

The cloud systems are further disrupted during periods of proximity to Bertius-C, known informally as Sun Season among Terran explorers. At this point, the bands disperse and form a more generalized cloud cover spanning most of the planet. While some sun seasons feature a smooth, blank expanse of global cloud coverage, others result in a rippling pattern of ice crystals and air that on Earth is called a mackerel sky. It is still unknown what causes this variation, but current hypotheses link it to fluctuations in gravity and temperature based on the exact positioning of the three-star system.