Related topics: climate change
Climate
hideClimate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorological elements in a given region over long periods of time. Climate can be contrasted to weather, which is the present condition of these same elements over periods up to two weeks.
The climate of a location is affected by its latitude, terrain, altitude, ice or snow cover, as well as nearby water bodies and their currents. Climates can be classified according to the average and typical ranges of different variables, most commonly temperature and rainfall. The most commonly used classification scheme is the one originally developed by Wladimir Köppen. The Thornthwaite system, in use since 1948, incorporates evapotranspiration in addition to temperature and precipitation information and is used in studying animal species diversity and potential impacts of climate changes. The Bergeron and Spatial Synoptic Classification systems focus on the origin of air masses defining the climate for certain areas.
Paleoclimatology is the study and description of ancient climates. Since direct observations of climate are not available before the 19th century, paleoclimates are inferred from proxy variables that include non-biotic evidence such as sediments found in lake beds and ice cores, and biotic evidence such as tree rings and coral. Climate models are mathematical models of past, present and future climates.
For more information about Climate, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with climate
Rare Scottish mineral may indicate life on Mars
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
21 hours ago |
3.6 / 5 (20) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) scientists is looking for clues about life on Mars in an earthy clay mineral found only in Aberdeenshire in Scotland.
Governments turn to cloud seeding to fight drought
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
12 hours ago |
1 / 5 (1) |
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(AP) -- On a mountaintop clearing in the Sierra Nevada stands a tall metal platform holding a crude furnace and a box of silver iodide solution that some scientists believe could help offer relief from searing ...
Stolen e-mails embolden climate change skeptics
14 hours ago |
2.8 / 5 (6) |
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(AP) -- At a critical time, the uproar over stolen e-mails suggesting scientists suppressed contrary views about climate change has emboldened skeptics - including congressional Republicans looking to scuttle President Barack ...
1,700 UK scientists back climate science
17 hours ago |
3 / 5 (2) |
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(AP) -- Fighting back against climate skeptics, over 1,700 scientists in Britain have signed a statement defending the evidence that climate change is being caused by humans, Britain's weather office said Thursday.
New science estimates carbon storage potential of US lands
11 hours ago |
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The first phase of a groundbreaking national assessment estimates that U.S. forests and soils could remove additional quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as a means to mitigate climate change.
New approach to emissions makes climate and air quality models more accurate, major study finds
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
15 hours ago |
5 / 5 (2) |
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It's no secret that the emissions leaving a car tailpipe or factory smokestack affect climate and air quality. Even trees release chemicals that influence the atmosphere. But until now, scientists have struggled to know where ...
Climate projections underestimate CO2 impact
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
12 hours ago |
3.4 / 5 (10) |
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The climate may be 30-50 percent more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide in the long term than previously thought, according to a recent study published in Nature Geoscience.
Soros: Climate financing dispute could wreck talks (Update)
23 hours ago |
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2
(AP) -- The $10 billion a year proposed by rich nations to help the poor adapt to climate change is "not sufficient" and the gap between what's offered and what's needed could wreck the Copenhagen climate ...
Germany unveils world's largest weather supercomputer
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
17 hours ago |
3.5 / 5 (2) |
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Germany Thursday unveiled the world's most powerful weather supercomputer that scientists hope will provide critical data on global warming for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Study: Earth more sensitive to carbon dioxide than previously thought
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Dec 06, 2009 |
3.3 / 5 (36) |
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In the long term, the Earth's temperature may be 30-50% more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide than has previously been estimated, reports a new study published in Nature Geoscience this week.
Old hay and Alpine ibex horns reveal how grasslands respond to climate change
22 hours ago |
1 / 5 (1) |
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How do plant ecosystems react to rising concentrations of the greenhouse gas CO2 in the atmosphere over the long term? This fundamental question is becoming increasingly pressing in light of global climate ...
Half of Britons deny climate change man-made: poll
Dec 06, 2009 |
3.5 / 5 (10) |
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Almost half of Britons do not believe human behaviour is the main cause of global warming, a new poll showed Sunday, a day before world leaders begin crunch climate talks in Copenhagen.
Leaked document stirs anger at climate summit
Dec 08, 2009 |
3.4 / 5 (9) |
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(AP) -- A leaked Danish document at the U.N. climate conference provoked angry criticism Tuesday from developing countries who feared it would shift more of the burden to curb greenhouse gases on poorer countries.
Oceans' Uptake of Manmade Carbon May Be Slowing
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Dec 09, 2009 |
3.5 / 5 (20) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The oceans play a key role in regulating climate, absorbing more than a quarter of the carbon dioxide that humans put into the air. Now, the first year-by-year accounting of this mechanism ...
The last best chance: UN climate conference opens
Dec 07, 2009 |
1.7 / 5 (6) |
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(AP) -- The largest and most important U.N. climate change conference in history opened Monday, with organizers warning diplomats from 192 nations that this could be the last best chance for a deal to protect ...
