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climate - The long-term pattern of weather conditions in an area.

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climate - The long-term pattern of weather conditions in an area.

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In geography, temperate latitudes of the Earth lie between the subtropics and the polar circles. Average yearly temperatures in these regions are not extreme, not burning hot nor freezing cold. Temperate means moderate.

Unlike in the tropics, temperatures can change greatly here, between summer and winter. So, most places with a temperate climate have four seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring. Other areas with a temperate climate can have very unpredictable weather. One day it may be sunny, the next may be rainy, and after that it may be cloudy. This is normal in summer as well as in winter. These are the main types of temperate climate:

A maritime climate is generally for locations near the sea. That includes London, Dublin, Melbourne or Auckland. Most places do not have a rainy season and a dry season. Prevailing winds in the temperate zone are from the west. The western edge of temperate continents usually get this maritime climate. Examples are Western Europe, and western North America at latitudes between 40° and 60° north (65°N in Europe).

Some parts of the temperate zone have a Mediterranean climate, which have a dry summer - for example Rome, Cape Town, Santiago or Adelaide.

Some parts of the temperate zone, especially in the northern part of the continental climate, have severe winters - for example Moscow or Minnesota - this is called a hemiboreal climate.

Some places in the temperate zone have hot summers and cold winters, for example Chicago, Beijing, Budapest or Almaty.

References

McColl R.W. 2005. Encyclopedia of World Geography, Volume 1. New York: Facts on File, p. 919. ISBN 0-816-05786-9

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In geography, temperate latitudes of the Earth lie between the subtropics and the polar circles. Average yearly temperatures in these regions are not extreme, not burning hot nor freezing cold. Temperate means moderate. Unlike in the tropics, temperatures can change greatly here, between summer and winter.

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Weather-like this lightning storm in the Grand Canyon, in the U.S. state of Arizona-refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere, whereas climate refers to atmospheric changes over longer periods of time.

Photograph by Michael Nichols

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Contrary to popular opinion, science is not divided on the issue of climate change. The overwhelming majority (97 percent) of scientists agree that global warming is real, and that it is largely caused by human activity. And yet we seem to be experiencing record-breaking cold winters; in January 2019, a polar vortex plunged parts of North America into Arctic conditions. It may seem counterintuitive but cold weather events like these do not disprove global warming, because weather and climate are two different things.

Understanding Weather

Weather refers to the short-term conditions of the lower atmosphere, such as precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind direction, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. It could be sunny, cloudy, rainy, foggy, cold, hot, windy, stormy, snowing ... the list goes on.

The sun drives different types of weather by heating air in the lower atmosphere at varying rates. Warm air rises and cold air rushes in to fill its place, causing wind. These winds, along with water vapor in the air, influence the formation and movement of clouds, precipitation, and storms.

The atmospheric conditions that influence weather are always fluctuating, which is why the weather is always changing. Meteorologists analyze data from satellites, weather stations, and buoys to predict weather conditions over the upcoming days or weeks. These forecasts are important because weather influences many aspects of human activity. Sailors and pilots, for example, need to know when there might be a big storm coming, and farmers need to plan around the weather to plant and harvest crops. Firefighters also keep track of daily weather in order to be prepared for the likelihood of forest fires. Weather forecasts are also useful for military mission planning, for features of trade, and for warning people of potentially dangerous weather conditions.

Understanding Climate

While weather refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere, climate refers to atmospheric changes over longer periods of time, usually defined as 30 years or more. This is why it is possible to have an especially cold spell even though, on average, global temperatures are rising. The former is a weather event that takes place over the course of days, while the latter indicates an overall change in climate, which occurs over decades. In other words, the cold winter is a relatively small atmospheric perturbation within a much larger, long-term trend of warming.

Despite their differences, weather and climate are interlinked. As with weather, climate takes into account precipitation, wind speed and direction, humidity, and temperature. In fact, climate can be thought of as an average of weather conditions over time. More importantly, a change in climate can lead to changes in weather patterns.

Climate conditions vary between different regions of the world and influence the types of plants and animals that live there. For example, the Antarctic has a polar climate with subzero temperatures, violent winds, and some of the driest conditions on Earth. The organisms that live there are highly adapted to survive the extreme environment.

By contrast, the Amazon rainforest enjoys a tropical climate. Temperatures are consistently warm with high humidity, plenty of rainfall, and a lack of clearly defined seasons. These stable conditions support a very high diversity of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.

Our Climate Is Changing

The global climate has always been in a state of flux. However, it is changing much faster now than it has in the past, and this time human activities are to blame. One of the leading factors contributing to climate change is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil, which we use for transport, energy production, and industry.

Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO ₂) into the atmosphere; CO ₂ is one of a group of chemicals known as greenhouse gases. They are so named because they allow heat from the sun to enter the atmosphere but stop it from escaping, much like the glass of a greenhouse. The overall effect is that the global temperature rises, leading to a phenomenon known as global warming.

Global warming is a type of climate change, and it is already having a measurable effect on the planet in the form of melting Arctic sea ice, retreating glaciers, rising sea levels, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and a change in animal and plant ranges. The planet has already heated by about 0.8°C (1.4°F) in the last century, and temperatures have continued to rise.

Scientists cannot directly attribute any specific extreme weather event to climate change, but they are certain that climate change makes extreme weather more likely. In 2018, at least 5,000 people were killed and 28.9 million more required aid as a result of extreme weather events. The Indian state of Kerala was devastated by flooding; California was ravaged by a series of wildfires; and the strongest storm of the year, supertyphoon Mangkhut, crashed into the Philippines. It is likely that more frequent and more severe weather events are on the horizon.

Climate change is not a new concept, and yet little seems to have been done about it on a global scale. The greenhouse effect was first discovered in the 1800s, but it was not until 1988 that the global community galvanized to form the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Since then, leaders from around the world have committed to a series of goals to combat climate change, the latest of which is the Paris Agreement in which 185 countries have pledged to stop global temperatures from rising by more than 2°C (3.6°F) above preindustrial levels. In 2015, all United Nations member states agreed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed to "provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future." SDG 13 in particular commands member states to "take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts."

Part of the reason the global community has been so slow to act on climate change could be the confusion surrounding distinctions between weather and climate. People are reluctant to believe that the climate is changing when they can look outside their window and see for themselves that the weather appears typical.

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Director

Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

Author

National Geographic Society

Production Managers

Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society
Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society

Program Specialists

Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society
Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

Producer

Clint Parks

Last Updated

Oct. 22, 2019

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Director

Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

Author

National Geographic Society

Production Managers

Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society
Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society

Program Specialists

Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society
Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

Producer

Clint Parks

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Weather or Climate ... What's the Difference?

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Image Weather-like this lightning storm in the Grand Canyon, in the U.S. state of Arizona-refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere, whereas climate refers to atmospheric changes over longer periods of time. Photograph by Michael Nichols Tuesday, October 22, 2019 Contrary to popular opinion, science is not divided on the issue of climate change.

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Why is the temperature in the summer usually lower near the ocean or another large body of water?

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Why is the temperature in the summer usually lower near the ocean or another large body of water?

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One way that the world's ocean affects weather and climate is by playing an important role in keeping our planet warm. The majority of radiation from the sun is absorbed by the ocean, particularly in tropical waters around the equator, where the ocean acts like a massive, heat-retaining solar panel. Land areas also absorb some sunlight, and the atmosphere helps to retain heat that would otherwise quickly radiate into space after sunset.

The ocean doesn't just store solar radiation; it also helps to distribute heat around the globe. When water molecules are heated, they exchange freely with the air in a process called evaporation. Ocean water is constantly evaporating, increasing the temperature and humidity of the surrounding air to form rain and storms that are then carried by trade winds. In fact, almost all rain that falls on land starts off in the ocean. The tropics are particularly rainy because heat absorption, and thus ocean evaporation, is highest in this area.

Outside of Earth's equatorial areas, weather patterns are driven largely by ocean currents. Currents are movements of ocean water in a continuous flow, created largely by surface winds but also partly by temperature and salinity gradients, Earth's rotation, and tides. Major current systems typically flow clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere, in circular patterns that often trace the coastlines.

Ocean currents act much like a conveyor belt, transporting warm water and precipitation from the equator toward the poles and cold water from the poles back to the tropics. Thus, ocean currents regulate global climate, helping to counteract the uneven distribution of solar radiation reaching Earth's surface. Without currents in the ocean, regional temperatures would be more extreme-super hot at the equator and frigid toward the poles-and much less of Earth's land would be habitable.

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How does the ocean affect climate and weather on land?

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One way that the world's ocean affects weather and climate is by playing an important role in keeping our planet warm. The majority of radiation from the sun is absorbed by the ocean, particularly in tropical waters around the equator, where the ocean acts like a massive, heat-retaining solar panel.

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How are seasonal winds different from prevailing winds?:  Seasonal winds change according to seasons, whereas prevailing winds usually blow in a certain direction regardless of the season.

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How are seasonal winds different from prevailing winds?:  Seasonal winds change according to seasons, whereas prevailing winds usually blow in a certain direction regardless of the season.

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Seasonal winds are dependent on weather patterns, while prevailing winds is more dependent on the location.

Above is a picture of seasonal winds. In January by the Asian coast, the warmer air is travelling southwest, while in July, cold wind is travelling more northeast. The weather and season are the cause of seasonal winds.

This picture above is showing the global prevailing winds. Weather may have some influence of this wind pattern, but is not the main cause of this wind pattern. The prevailing winds follow the mid-latitude and hadley cells.

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How are seasonal winds different from prevailing wind? | Socratic

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Seasonal winds are dependent on weather patterns, while prevailing winds is more dependent on the location. Above is a picture of seasonal winds. In January by the Asian coast, the warmer air is travelling southwest, while in July, cold wind is travelling more northeast. The weather and season are the cause of seasonal winds.

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How winds affect precipitation:  If the winds blow inland from oceans or large lakes, they will contain a lot of water vapor and will cause precipitation.  If the winds blow from over the land, they will contain less water vapor and are less likely to cause precipitation.

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How winds affect precipitation:  If the winds blow inland from oceans or large lakes, they will contain a lot of water vapor and will cause precipitation.  If the winds blow from over the land, they will contain less water vapor and are less likely to cause precipitation.

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How mountains affect precipitation:  Mountains force winds upward.  IF the winds contain a lot of water vapor, precipitation will fall on the side of the mountains where the wind hits.  Because the winds on the other side of the mountain will be mostly cool and dry, they will cause little precipitation

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How mountains affect precipitation:  Mountains force winds upward.  IF the winds contain a lot of water vapor, precipitation will fall on the side of the mountains where the wind hits.  Because the winds on the other side of the mountain will be mostly cool and dry, they will cause little precipitation

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Unit 2 Lesson 6 What causes climate Quick Check Guide

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Other articles where Tropical zone is discussed: Australia: Vegetation: The Tropical Zone, which arcs east and west across the northern margin of the continent and extends halfway down the eastern seaboard, has a mainly dry monsoonal climate, with some wet regions. The Temperate Zone, with a cool-to-warm (temperate-to-subtropical) climate and precipitation mostly in winter, is...

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Monsoon, a major wind system that seasonally reverses its direction-such as one that blows for approximately six months from the northeast and six months from the southwest. The most prominent monsoons occur in South Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific coast of Central America. Monsoonal tendencies also are apparent along the Gulf Coast of the United States and in central Europe; however, true monsoons do not occur in those regions.

For further information on prominent monsoon regions, see Indian monsoon, West African monsoon, Malaysian-Australian monsoon, and North American monsoon.

The primary cause of monsoons lies in different warming trends over land and sea, though other factors may be involved. Seasonal changes in temperature are large over land but small over ocean waters, and monsoons blow from atmospheric heat sinks (that is, cold regions with high atmospheric pressure) toward heat sources (warm regions characterized by low atmospheric pressure). Consequently, monsoon winds typically travel from sea to land in summer and from land to sea in winter. For example, the heat source involved in the Indian summer monsoon resides over the Plateau of Tibet and the eastern foothills of the Himalayas, while the heat sink occurs over the southern Indian Ocean and Madagascar, a region where relatively cloud-free air cools by emitting infrared, or "long-wave," radiation into space. Likewise, the heat source for the Australian summer monsoon resides over the area in which many meteorologists call the " Maritime Continent," a region made up of parts of Southeast Asia and the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines, while the heat sink resides over Siberia.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Most summer monsoons have a dominant westerly component and a strong tendency to ascend and produce copious rainfall, which occurs as a result of the condensation of water vapour in the rapidly rising air. The intensity and duration of these rains, however, are not uniform from year to year. Conversely, the winds of winter monsoons have a prevailing easterly component and a strong tendency to diverge, subside, and cause drought.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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The poleward limits of monsoon systems are often sites of sharp changes in wind direction. In India, for example, the monsoon blows from the southwest in July and August, and north of India the winds are from the east. In northern Australia the monsoon arrives from the northwest during January-February. At the southern limit of the Australian monsoon, the winds turn easterly.

Climatic patterns reminiscent of monsoons also occur in areas outside of the prominent monsoon regions. In central Europe, where the average wind direction in summer differs some 30° to 40° from that of the Atlantic, there are monsoonal tendencies that occur not as a continuous flow but rather intermittently within frontal depressions, bringing cool, cloudy weather, rain, and thunderstorms. Some see in this climatic pattern a true monsoon, but it is obvious that it is only an "embryo monsoon" that results in weather singularities. The latitude is too high for a true monsoon to arise. In addition, the Gulf Coast of the United States is prone to climatic patterns with monsoonal tendencies; however, the seasonally consistent winds characteristic of true monsoons do not emerge.

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Monsoon, a major wind system that seasonally reverses its direction-such as one that blows for approximately six months from the northeast and six months from the southwest. The most prominent monsoons occur in South Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific coast of Central America. Monsoonal

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Marine-climate Meaning | Best 1 Definitions of Marine-climate

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What does marine-climate mean? A relatively mild climate moderated by the presence of a large body of water. (noun)

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Did you know?
In sailing terminology, windward means "upwind," or the direction from which the wind is blowing. A windward vessel refers to one that is upwind of another vessel; a leeward vessel is downwind. In naval warfare during the Age of Sail, windward ships had the advantage due to much greater maneuverability than their leeward (downwind) foes.

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national oceanic and atmospheric administration

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Did you know? In sailing terminology, windward means "upwind," or the direction from which the wind is blowing. A windward vessel refers to one that is upwind of another vessel; a leeward vessel is downwind. In naval warfare during the Age of Sail, windward ships had the advantage due to much greater maneuverability than their leeward (downwind) foes.

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Climate can be defined as the general long-term prevailing weather condition such as air pressure, temperature, wind, precipitation, and humidity that occur in a particular place. There are many factors that influence the climate of a place, the most significant of which is latitude. Places close to the equator are exposed to more sunlight and are much warmer compared to those places near the poles. Other factors affecting climate include altitude, terrain, and water bodies and their currents. Climates are classified according to the average and the typical range of different variables, especially precipitation and temperature. Koppen climate classification is the most commonly used climate classification scheme. According to Koppen classification, there are five primary types of climate labeled A to E, being tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar. The primary types are further divided into secondary types including humid continental, rainforest, tropical, monsoon, oceanic, desert, steppe, and Mediterranean climate. This article focus on the continental climate.

Overview of the Continental Climate

Continental climates are characterized by variable weather pattern and significant variation in temperature. Continentality is the measure of the degree to which a region's climate typifies that of an interior of a large landmass. This type of climate occurs in the mid-latitudes where temperatures are not moderated by any water body such as sea or ocean and the prevailing wind blow overhead. Such regions experience colder winters and hot summers since there is no water body to keep the climate milder in winter and cooler in summer. This is because rocks and soil have a lower heat capacity compared to water and also lose heat much faster. Thus, the continental climate is relatively dry as air masses that originate from the oceans far away are lost before reaching the location. Continental climate occurs mainly in the Northern Hemisphere which has the required large landmass for the climate to develop.

General Characteristics of Continental Climate

Continental climate is characterized by a moderate amount of precipitation, mostly concentrated in the warmer months. The precipitation is derived from the frontal cyclone and conventional showers during the summer months when the maritime tropical air pushes northwards behind retreating polar front. Most areas show distinct summer precipitation maximum with only a few areas such as the mountains of the Pacific Northwest of the continent of North America and in northern Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia show winter precipitation maximum. Part of the annual precipitation is in the form a snowfall with the snow remaining on the ground for up to a month. The mean annual precipitation is 24-47 inches, mostly in form of snow. Summer can also feature thunderstorm and cooler temperatures. Winters are generally cold but are subject to occasional mild spell resulting from the periodic incursions of tropical air. The mean temperature during winter is typically below freezing point. Spring and autumn in this climate zone vary depending on elevation and latitude. In the southern part, spring begins as early as March while in the north as late as May.

Locations with Continental Climate

Regions of the world that experience continental climate includes much of North America, Central Russia, and Siberia. Canada, Siberia, and northern states of the United States in particular exhibit large differences in wintertime and summertime average temperature of up to 40 degrees Celsius.
Canada
The continental climate is experienced throughout most parts of Southern Canada from the Rocky Mountains to Atlantic Canada. The region is in the interior of Canada and very far from large water bodies such as lakes and Ocean. The major areas in Canada that experience a continental climate include Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec City, London, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Sydney, and Kingston. In these areas, precipitation is about 40 inches per year and is well distributed throughout the year. Winters are cold and characterized by dry and sunny days alternating with periods of snowfall. Summer is short, rainy, and cool with thunderstorms in the afternoon. Spring sets in a bit late.
United States
In the United States, the continental climate is experienced mainly in the northern states including Alaska and in farther south in states such as California, Oregon, and Arizona. Areas along the Appalachian Mountain are also included in this climate zone. Some of the major cities in the US experiencing the continental climate include Salt Lake City, Denver, Kansas City, Omaha, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, New York City, Buffalo, Boston, and Cleveland. These areas experiencing humid continental climate have four distinct seasons, with cold and snowy winter and warm to hot summer. The mean daily high temperatures range from -12 °C to -1 °C in winter to 21 °C to 27 °C in summer. The conflict between the Gulf and the Canadian air often result in severe thunderstorm and tornados, especially in May and June. June is usually the wettest month of the year, especially in the northern plains and the North Central States.
South America
In South America, no major city falls into the classification of a continental climate largely because of the influence of the ocean. Most parts of the continent fall within the oceanic climate zone. However, some remote places experience this type of climate. The climate Mendoza in Argentina is arid with continental characteristics. The town receives most of the precipitation in summer months (November to March). Summers are generally hot and humid while winters are cold and dry. The other areas in South America characterized by continental climate include the central and east of the capital Santiago and the interior of the Aysen region.

Vegetation of Continental Climate

The continental climate is found mainly in the inland and eastern parts of a continent. The warm summer and cold winter encourage the growth of diverse plants, from plants to perennial and ground covers. Large parts of the climate area were covered with forests before the lands were cleared for agriculture. The forests within the climate zone are divided into coniferous and deciduous. Some of the plants common in continental climate regions include silver maple, Carolina lupine, and lavender. This zone also holds different types of animals including birds and snakes.

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Climate can be defined as the general long-term prevailing weather condition such as air pressure, temperature, wind, precipitation, and humidity that occur in a particular place. There are many factors that influence the climate of a place, the most significant of which is latitude.

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Unit 2 L 6 Completed Guided Notes What Causes