Atmosphere

[PeteB]

Re: Planetary Cores:Off-topic Alert!

I'm not an expert either but...

Planetary cores are not generally "static" objects, especially in cases like Gas Giant planets. That there is a solid core at all is questionable (hence "surface gravity " is a debatable term - surface of what?) Here's the thing, Earth has a liquid core, not a solid one. There is no question of Carbon congealing at the center and forming diamonds - the whole mass is in motion. Similarly, most current theories about the nature of gas giant planets are such that the gases and other elements and compounds are constantly moving, fissioning (splitting) and fusioning (combining) under intense conditions of heat and pressure. Much of the lower atmosphere of the GG is probably in a "plasma" state (fourth - or fifth, depending on how you count - state of matter, neither solid, liquid or gas). In this state electrons are generally stripped from thier atomic cores - very energetic, polarized and turbulent. No diamonds here.

For an example of a Gas Giant creature, see Roger Zelazny's story in the collection "Frost and Fire" (story name escapes me) which is basically a jellyfish with tough sides.