Blog
Save
Email
Print
ShareThe climate is the weather averaged over a long period of time.
Weather is the combination of events in the atmosphere and climate is the overall accumulated weather in a certain location.
Over historic time spans there are a number of static variables that determine climate, including: latitude, altitude, proportion of land to water, and proximity to oceans and mountains.
Other climate determinants are more dynamic: The thermohaline circulation of the ocean distributes heat energy between the equatorial and polar regions; other ocean currents do the same between land and water on a more regional scale.
Degree of vegetation coverage affects solar heat absorption, water retention, and rainfall on a regional level.
Alterations in the quantity of atmospheric greenhouse gases determines the amount of solar energy retained by the planet, leading to global warming or global cooling.
The variables which determine climate are numerous and the interactions complex, but there is general agreement that the broad outlines are understood, at least in so far as the determinants of historical climate change are concerned.
For more information about the topic Climate, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:
Instrumental temperature record — The instrumental temperature record shows the fluctuations of the temperature of the atmosphere and the oceans since the invention of ... > read more
Weather — Weather is a term that encompasses phenomena in the atmosphere of a planet. The term is normally taken to mean the activity of these phenomena over ... > read more
Meteorology — Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. Meteorological phenomena are observable ... > read more
Precipitation (meteorology) — In meteorology, precipitation is any form of water that falls from the sky as part of the weather to the ground. This includes snow, rain, sleet, ... > read more
Temperature record — The temperature record shows the fluctuations of the temperature of the atmosphere and the oceans through various spans of time. The most detailed ... > read more
Atmospheric chemistry — Atmospheric chemistry is a branch of atmospheric science in which the chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere and that of other planets is studied. It is ... > read more
Recommend this page on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:
Other bookmarking and sharing tools:
more 