Endor Gravity Implications

McC · Post by **McC** » 2004-05-06 04:03pm

I just saw this article from AP and thought it might have some interesting implications for either the height of Endor (and Kashyyyk) trees or the gravity of those worlds.

AP wrote:How tall could a giant redwood really grow? A Northern Arizona University professor and researchers from other schools think they have the answer to that question: no more than 426 feet.

Emphasis mine. Full article.

This doesn't really dispute anything that's been said before (Dr. Saxton says that Endor's moon cannot have gravity exceeding 8 m/s^2 anyway, due to its approximate size in comparison with the Death Star II), but I thought it was an interesting real-world parallel that you all might enjoy seeing.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-05-06 04:25pm

according to the article the height only becomes an issue when rainfall is reduced. so long as endor has a decent amount of rainfall (the fact it's a forest based moon would suggest this) it doesn't seem too much of an problem.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-05-06 04:39pm

No, height is an issue for all trees. The limiting factor involves "pumping" the water up to the top of the tree.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-05-06 04:58pm

Howedar wrote:No, height is an issue for all trees. The limiting factor involves "pumping" the water up to the top of the tree.

However, redwoods and other very large trees get their water primarily from airborne moisture like fog. Only about 10% of the water redwoods use comes from the root systems. That's a good part of why redwood forests are so rare, and can only grow near the coast where moisture is abundant. I imagine that there will be physical limitations to how large trees can grow, but I doubt that trees the size of Endor's would get any appreciable quantity of water from their roots.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-05-07 02:28am

Er, my bad, should have been more clear. While the water can indeed be pulled from the atmosphere, the nutrients in the soil cannot. They must be pulled in by the roots and passed up the tree.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-05-07 12:07pm

Perhaps plants on Endor evolved something akin to an actively pumping circulatory system?

McC · Post by **McC** » 2004-05-07 12:22pm

Well, how tall are the trees of Endor and Kashyyyk? Do we know? Perhaps these figures shoul be compared to the gravity of the planet before we start speculating on additional biological mechanisms for nutrient distribution.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-05-07 12:29pm

Kashyyyk's trees are at least several kilometers tall.

However, we know Kashyyyk is not a natural biosphere. It was constructed by the Rakatan Infinite Empire as a agro-world/supply depot.

McC · Post by **McC** » 2004-05-07 12:34pm

Good point on Kashyyyk.

What about Endor?

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-05-07 02:01pm

McC wrote:Well, how tall are the trees of Endor and Kashyyyk? Do we know? Perhaps these figures shoul be compared to the gravity of the planet before we start speculating on additional biological mechanisms for nutrient distribution.

The trees on Endor can be at least several hundred meters tall, judging from the Ewok village.

Although the Ultimate Guide to the SW Universe suggests that Endor may have sub-standard gravity (and a few internet junkies have speculated the same), observed rates at which objects which were dropped on Endor accelerated towards the ground were not distinguishably different from those of Earth, indicating that the planet had a similar gravity.

Currald · Post by **Currald** » 2004-05-07 02:27pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:Kashyyyk's trees are at least several kilometers tall.

However, we know Kashyyyk is not a natural biosphere. It was constructed by the Rakatan Infinite Empire as a agro-world/supply depot.

Biomechanical constants would remain the same whether the trees were the result of natural or artificial selection.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-05-07 03:53pm

The point is they're not naturally occuring, evolved trees. They could've been purely biologically fabricated and composed of exotic materials.