Climate

Climate Fundamentals

• Definition: Climate is the long-term weather pattern in a region.
• Factors Affecting Climate: Latitude, longitude, terrain, altitude, and land use play a role.
• Climate Classification: Köppen climate classification is widely used to categorize climates.
• Climate Normals: Reference points for climatologists over a 30-year period.
• Climate Determinants: Latitude, altitude, land-water proportion, ocean currents, and vegetation coverage.

Paleoclimatology and Climate Change

• Study of Past Climates: Paleoclimatology uses proxy variables like sediments and tree rings.
• Modern Climate Record: Details known through weather instruments and satellite data.
• Climate Variability: Variations in mean state and characteristics of climate.
• Climate Change: Variation in global or regional climates over time, often attributed to human activity.
• Impacts of Climate Change: Affecting biodiversity, ecosystems, sea levels, weather patterns, and agriculture.

Climate Models and Predictions

• Understanding Climate Models: Simulate interactions in the atmosphere, oceans, land, and ice.
• Earth’s Energy Imbalance: A fundamental metric for global change and climate predictions.
• Temperature Trends: Monitoring global temperature changes and variations in patterns.
• Climate Models: Predict an upward trend in global mean surface temperature.
• Monitoring Earth’s Energy Imbalance: Crucial for understanding climate change and its consequences.

Data Collection and Classification

• Climate Data Sources: World Meteorological Organization, Met Office, and National Weather Service offices.
• Climate Classification Tools: Köppen-Geiger maps, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, and Thornthwaite Moisture Index.
• Temperature Data: GISS Surface Temperature Analysis and historical climatology network data.
• Climate Data Utilization: Guidelines for calculating climate normals and understanding past climate trends.
• Distribution of Climate Classifications: Affected by climate change and shifts in biota distributions.

Educational and Research Resources

• IPCC Reports: Comprehensive information on climate change for policymakers and researchers.
• Educational References: NASA, National Geographic Society, and meteorology studies.
• Additional Resources: Climate prediction portals, historical data sources, and educational tools.
• Paleoclimatology Studies: Inferring ancient climates from non-biotic and biotic evidence.
• Climate Education and Awareness: Essential for understanding climate science and its implications.

Climate Data Sources