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
First comprehensive review of the state of Antarctica's climate
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
5 hours ago |
3 / 5 (2) |
2
The first comprehensive review of the state of Antarctica's climate and its relationship to the global climate system is published this week by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). The review - Antarctic ...
Nearly half of Venice underwater
16 hours ago |
3.7 / 5 (6) |
3
Much of the historic Italian city of Venice, including St. Mark's Square, was underwater Monday following a meteorological depression combined with natural tide waters, officials said.
New climate targets may not change daily life much
Nov 27, 2009 |
3.4 / 5 (17) |
29
(AP) -- Americans' day-to-day lives won't change noticeably if President Barack Obama achieves his newly announced goal of slashing carbon dioxide pollution by one-sixth in the next decade, experts say.
Past regional cold and warm periods linked to natural climate drivers
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Nov 26, 2009 |
3.8 / 5 (19) |
28
Intervals of regional warmth and cold in the past are linked to the El Niño phenomenon and the so-called "North Atlantic Oscillation" in the Northern hemisphere's jet stream, according to a team of climate scientists. These ...
Leaders say momentum building on climate change
Nov 29, 2009 |
2.5 / 5 (11) |
12
(AP) -- Leaders of the Commonwealth countries called Saturday for a legally binding international agreement on climate change and a global fund with billions of dollars to help poor countries meet its mandates.
When roots lose contact
23 hours ago |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
Plant roots can shrink as a result of water deficit and lose contact with the surrounding soil. This effect has been suspected for a long time, but has only now been demonstrated for a fact with the help of ...
Obama to plead US case at global warming summit
Nov 26, 2009 |
1.7 / 5 (6) |
2
(AP) -- President Barack Obama will commit the United States to substantial cuts in greenhouse gas pollution over the next decade - despite resistance in Congress over higher costs - when he travels to a ...
Venezuela turns to cloud-seeding to battle drought
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Nov 29, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
(AP) -- Hugo Chavez says he is starting to "bombard" clouds now that Cuba has provided Venezuela with cloud-seeding help in an effort to produce rain and alleviate the effects of a severe drought.
From Greenhouse to Icehouse
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Nov 24, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (12) |
9
A new study that reconstructed ocean temperatures from millions of years ago could provide new insight into how the Earth responds to climate change.
Researchers Establish Common Seasonal Patterns Among Bacterial Communities in Arctic Rivers
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Nov 24, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research on bacterial communities throughout six large Arctic river ecosystems reveals predictable temporal patterns, suggesting that scientists could use these communities as markers ...
America's increasing food waste is laying waste to the environment
Nov 25, 2009 |
2.3 / 5 (3) |
3
Food waste contributes to excess consumption of freshwater and fossil fuels which, along with methane and carbon dioxide emissions from decomposing food, impacts global climate change. In a new paper published in the open-access, ...
Cutting greenhouse pollutants could directly save millions of lives worldwide
Nov 25, 2009 |
2.1 / 5 (14) |
6
Tackling climate change by reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions will have major direct health benefits in addition to reducing the risk of climate change, especially in low-income countries, according to ...
Living buildings could mop up carbon dioxide
Nov 27, 2009 |
1 / 5 (2) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Architecture could help us tackle climate change, if we start to design our buildings with 'living' materials, according to Dr Rachel Armstrong, UCL Bartlett School of Architecture.
CO2 emissions continue significant climb
Nov 24, 2009 |
2.6 / 5 (10) |
7
The annual rate of increase in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels has more than tripled in this decade, compared to the 1990s, reports an international consortium of scientists, who paint a bleak picture of the Earth's ...
Marine ecosystems get a climate form guide
Nov 27, 2009 |
3 / 5 (4) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- The first-ever Australian benchmark of climate change impacts on marine ecosystems and options for adaptation is being released in Brisbane today.
