"Climate is the long-term weather pattern in a region, typically averaged over 30 years."
The long-term average of weather patterns in a particular area.
Greenhouse Effect: The process by which Earth's atmosphere traps and retains heat from the sun, contributing to the planet's overall temperature.
Carbon Cycle: The natural process by which carbon is cycled through the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land. This process is integral to regulating the planet's carbon balance and mitigating the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Models: Tools used to simulate and predict changes in weather patterns over time based on a variety of factors, such as greenhouse gas emissions, solar radiation, and ocean currents.
Climate Change Impacts: The various effects that climate change is having on Earth's ecosystems and human societies, such as rising sea levels, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and changes to agriculture and water resources.
Renewable Energy: Forms of energy that are derived from sources that can be continuously replenished, such as solar, wind, and hydro power. These forms of energy are critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.
Climate Policy: The set of laws, regulations, and initiatives aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the impacts of climate change. This topic encompasses both national and international policy efforts.
Sustainable Development: The process of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This involves finding ways to balance economic development with social and environmental concerns, including climate change.
Climate Adaptation: The process of preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change. This can include measures such as building sea walls to protect against rising sea levels or developing drought-resistant crops to cope with changing weather patterns.
Climate Communication: The process of communicating information related to climate science and policy to various audiences, including policymakers, the media, and the general public. This topic includes strategies for effectively conveying complex information and addressing skepticism or misinformation.
"Some of the meteorological variables that are commonly measured are temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, and precipitation."
"The climate of a location is affected by its latitude, longitude, terrain, altitude, land use, nearby water bodies, and their currents."
"Climates can be classified according to the average and typical variables, most commonly temperature and precipitation."
"The most widely used classification scheme was the Köppen climate classification."
"The Thornthwaite system, in use since 1948, incorporates evapotranspiration along with temperature and precipitation information and is used in studying biological diversity and how climate change affects it."
"The Bergeron and Spatial Synoptic Classification systems focus on the origin of air masses that define the climate of a region."
"Paleoclimatology is the study of ancient climates."
"Paleoclimates are inferred from proxy variables. They 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."
"Recent warming is discussed in terms of global warming, which results in redistributions of biota."
"A 3 °C [5 °F] change in mean annual temperature corresponds to a shift in isotherms of approximately 300–400 km [190–250 mi] in latitude (in the temperate zone) or 500 m [1,600 ft] in elevation. Therefore, species are expected to move upwards in elevation or towards the poles in latitude in response to shifting climate zones."
"Climate change may occur over long and short timescales from various factors."
"The Thornthwaite system... is used in studying biological diversity and how climate change affects it."
"Climate is the state of the components of the climate system, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere and the interactions between them."
"They include non-biotic evidence—such as sediments found in lake beds and ice cores."
"Paleoclimatologists seek to explain climate variations for all parts of the Earth during any given geologic period, beginning with the time of Earth's formation."
"Typically averaged over 30 years."
"They include... biotic evidence—such as tree rings and coral."
"The climate of a location is affected by its latitude, longitude, terrain, altitude, land use, nearby water bodies, and their currents."