Ruun 14: Xa-Vek Ak Théxar — Oceans
"Ven-mor 67% surface xa-vek. Vokh-ven one ocean-mor — 2 ocean-mor sha-vek. Thalas N, Gharra S — sha-el rass." — Institute of Oceanology, +3 100 E.U.
Ruun-ak rass: → rhu [Ruun 03, "Théxar"], → rhu [Ruun 05, "Xha'Ruun Sha-Mor"], → rhu [Ruun 12, "The-Xar Sha-Vek"], → rhu [Ruun 13, "The-Xar-Ak"] Mor-ven: 67% surface = ocean. 2 ocean (Thalas north, Gharra south) + 5 sea (Serrin, Irkhen, Thash, Ven-Khal, Koss). Deepest Thash Trench 12 010 sha. Thermohaline cycle ~2 500 y. Moryn intelligence deep Gharra.
14.1 Ocean Thalas — Northern
Profile:
| Shan | Ven |
|---|---|
| Avg depth | 4 490 sha |
| Max depth | 10 270 sha |
| T surface (eq) | 57.0°X |
| T surface (polar) | 44.0°X |
| Salinity | 3.5% |
| pH | 7.9–8.1 |
Thalas is the largest northern ocean. Warm currents and continental geometry help retain and transport heat.
14.1.1 Bathymetry
| Province | Depth (sha) | Sha |
|---|---|---|
| Shelf | 0–488 | Wide N Kharak shelf (≤71 mo) |
| Continental slope | 488–4 268 | Steep W (>12°), gentle E |
| Abyssal plain | 4 268–8 537 | Flat + abyssal hills |
14.1.2 Circulation
- Tor Current — warm surface, equator → N pole
- Deep convection 30°–50°N
- Cool return current at depth → Ven-Khal → Gharra
14.2 Ocean Gharra — Southern
Profile:
| Shan | Ven |
|---|---|
| Avg depth | 3 840 sha |
| Max depth | 12 010 sha |
| T surface (eq) | 54.9°X |
| T surface (polar) | 44.1°X |
| Salinity | 3.3% |
| pH | 7.8–8.2 |
Gharra — S ocean, named for Gharra impact basin ~5.5 bln cycle-tor (→ rhu [Ruun 12]).
14.2.1 Thash Trench
Deepest point on Théxar: 12 010 sha. Rhuval/Gharra plate subduction. Pressure ~952 tyazh, T 46.6°X (1.6°X above analog trench, geothermal-mor). Unique chemosynthesis ecosystem.
14.2.2 Circulation
- Gharra Circumpolar Current — powerful ring around Vexar S, partial isolation
- Ven-Khal Current — cold deep, connects Thalas ↔ Gharra
- Deep upwelling W Vexar → nutrient rise
14.3 Seas
5 Seas:
| Sea | Area (mo²) | Avg depth (sha) | Ocean | Sha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serrin | 132 200 | 1 463 | Thalas S | Warm, shallow, S Kharak/N Rhuval |
| Irkhen | 115 700 | 2 195 | Thalas E | Stormy, archipelago, cultural crossroad |
| Thash | 78 500 | 2 927 | Gharra W | Deep, contains Thash Trench |
| Ven-Khal | 62 000 | 1 098 | Gharra → Thalas | Strait sea, 2-ocean connect |
| Koss | 40 500 | 732 | Gharra S | Cold, polar, krill-rich |
Serrin Sea — warmest, most productive (≈320 g C/m²/y). Kharak river inflow (Thar), well-developed shelf, stable upwelling both coast, T 57.0–59.2°X. Named for planet's largest satellite.
Irkhen Sea — strong tidal current (especially in narrow straits), >60 d/y storm with wave >3.7 sha. Key trade route Kharak/Rhuval.
Ven-Khal Sea — only 2-ocean connect, strait 85 mo narrowest.
Rass-Ven: ~8% total inter-ocean water exchange passes through Ven-Khal Strait. Critical for thermohaline circulation.
14.4 Currents ven Thermohaline Circulation
14.4.1 Global Conveyor
Stages:
- Warm surface Thalas → N (Tor Current), heat release to atm
- Cold, dense water sinks N Thalas latitude (deep convection)
- Deep current → S, passes Ven-Khal → Gharra
- Gharra partial upwelling → cycle close
Parameters:
| Shan | Ven |
|---|---|
| Deep convection zone | Thalas 30°–50°N |
| Avg speed (deep) | 10.2 pa/mig |
| Full cycle | ~2 500 y |
| Heat transport | ~0.8 PW |
| Deep T | 46.6°X |
Rass-Ven: Théxar cycle 2.5× slower (weaker wind forcing, smaller salinity gradient).
14.4.2 Tides
| Shan | Serrin | Thel | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max height | 2.2 sha | 0.4 sha | 2.6 sha |
| Avg height | 1.1 sha | 0.1 sha | 1.2 sha |
| Cycle | Semidiurnal | Diurnal | Mixed |
The stated mean tidal height is 1.2 sha. Local height depends on coastline and basin geometry.
14.5 Marine Ecosystems
14.5.1 Main Zones
| Zone | Depth (sha) | Light | Life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euphotic | 0–146 | Photosynth sufficient | Phytoplankton, algae, reef |
| Dysphotic | 146–732 | Twilight | Large algae, some animal |
| Aphotic | 732–4 878 | Full dark | Bioluminescent |
| Abyssal | 4 878–8 537 | Full dark | Chemosynth bacteria |
| Hadal | 8 537+ | Full dark | Extremophile (trench) |
14.5.2 Coral Reefs
Silicon-calcium reef, hexagonal skeleton (→ rhu [Ruun 11]).
14.5.3 Hydrothermal Vents
| Field | Ocean | Depth (sha) | T vent (°X) | Sha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tor-1 | Thalas | 3 902 | 232.6 | Largest (0.33 mo²) |
| Thash-Deep | Gharra | 10 000 | 254.3 | Deepest on planet |
| Gharra-Vent | Gharra | 5 854 | 213.5 | Rich S + REE |
14.6 Ocean Resources
| Resource | Reserve | Method | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish/seafood | 24 M t/y sustainable | Fleet | Food |
| Bioactive | ~unlimited | Culture + extraction | Pharma |
| Oil/gas (shelf) | 18 bln t oe | Platform | Energy, chem |
| Polymetallic nodule | 120 bln t | Deep mining | Metallurgy |
| Gas hydrate (CH₄) | ~42 mo³ | Experimental | Potential fuel |
| REE (brine) | High | Evaporation | High tech |
14.6.1 Deep-Sea Mining
Industrial polymetallic nodule extraction ≤7 317 sha. Bio-optical automated station, complete dark + high pressure.
14.6.2 Ocean Energy
| Type | Potential (TWh/y) | Development |
|---|---|---|
| Tidal (Irkhen) | 340 | 45% (153 TWh) |
| Wave | 280 | 18% |
| Thermal (OTEC) | 520 | 12% |
| Current (Tor) | 410 | 8% |
14.7 Ocean ven Civilization
14.7.1 Maritime Trade
| Port | Continent | Cargo (M t/y) | Sha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khar-Vexar | Kharak | 420 | Multimodal, largest |
| Ven-Khal | Rhuval | 310 | Industrial, oil |
| Shan-En | Vexar | 180 | Container, high tech |
| Khal-Tor | Island | 95 | Fishing, passenger |
14.7.2 Moryn — Oceanic Intelligence
One of Théxar’s three sapient species (→ rhu [Ruun 05]). Deep Gharra, stable P + T. Bioluminescent communication, hydrothermal energy, deep ecosystem cultivation. Contact via interface station 244–610 sha depth.
14.7.3 Law of Silence ven Ocean Protection
Gharra Deep protected zone (0.51 M mo²) — Gharra S trench, Moryn habitat. Industrial banned, science strictly regulated.
Ruun Ven
- 2 ocean: Thalas (north) + Gharra (south), continent-separated.
- Deepest = Thash Trench 12 010 sha (Gharra).
- 5 sea (Serrin warmest → Koss coldest).
- Thermohaline cycle 2.5× slower (~2 500 y).
- Unique silicon-calcium reef, deep chemosynth.
- Moryn — one of three sapient species, Gharra deep.
- Ocean energy uses tides, waves, currents and thermal gradients; the table gives the listed sectors.
- Ven-Khal Strait — 8% inter-ocean exchange.