Titanological pedantry.

[ffutures]

Weinbaum's version of Titan is mostly covered in moving mountains of ice, basically very high dunes of ice crystals, not frozen together because it's too cold and dry, driven by 100-MPH winds. However, one real rock mountain is mentioned. I would like to describe it in terms of its height, but since there is no fixed surface equivalent to "sea level" to refer to I'm not sure how to do so. Should I just say e.g. 5000 ft and hope that nobody asks "relative to what?"

Comments

[johnreiher.livejournal.com]

I'd use the term "Average Ice Level". This represents the average height of the ice between the tops of the highest ice mountains to the deepest chasms between them. While this norm does not exist, it is a useful point of measure for any geographic object on Titan.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Average Ice Level seems good. Thanks!

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I would assume it meant 5000ft from tip of mountain to base of surrounding ice crystals.

There might be some scope to mention that it varies between 5000ft and 4300ft depending on the activity of the dunes, and then you can go into a description of ice crystal dunes trekking across the surface of the moon?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

you can go into a description of ice crystal dunes trekking across the surface of the moon

Weinbaum does that much better than I can...

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

The concept you're looking for is topographic prominence, although if it's an isolated mountain it's probably more convenient to say 'above the surrounding plain'.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I've gone with "Mean surface level," it seems to work.