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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Desdichado" data-source="post: 5340826" data-attributes="member: 2205">I don't see that as a "but" but rather as an "in addition to.There are plenty of mitigating factors that can be introduced, if you want to, though.  Tidal forces from Gliese 581 could stretch the planet, sorta how Io is stretched by tidal forces from Jupiter (although probably less extreme if we want to assume that this world is habitable.)  That can actually change the landforms sufficiently to alter weather patterns, plus it causes substantial vulcanism which would also disrupt weather patterns.  Considering that Io, for example, has numerous active volcanos at any given time, you'd probably not have much in the way of steady state weather.Of course, that may make things more difficult to establish any kind of steady state environment at all, but that's either a big problem or an interesting challenge, depending on how you look at it.This also assumes a circular orbit, which it doesn't have to be.  A more elliptical orbit could create seasons just by distance from the sun, which could cause weather to do unusual things as well.Tidal pull from a moon or moon(s) around the planet could also be used to vary the weather somewhat if you wanted.And finally, if you assume that there's no Jupiter or other large gas giant in a mid-level orbit around the star, then there's no shield to gravitationally capture or deflect errant comets.  The star itself becomes the main comet and asteroid attractor in the solar system, and a planet with a near orbit around it finds itself unwittingly in the line of fire.I presume, of course, that this planet is actually closer to its sun than the Earth is to our sun, since Gliese 581 is a much smaller, cooler and dimmer star than our sun.  In order to get similar climate, the orbit would have to be much closer, but I confess that I don't actually know what the situation for the real Gliese 581g is.</blockquote>

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