Defining Climate
By Eric and Angel
Climatology
Climate describes the long-term weather patterns of an area. Climatology is the study of Earth's climate and the factors that cause past, present, and future climatic changes.
Normals
The data used to describe an area's climate are complied from meteorological records, which are continuously gathered at thousands of locations around the world. The data are averaged on a monthly or annual basis for a period of at least 30 years to determine the normals, which are the standard values for a location.
Tropics
Much of the equatorial belt within the tropical climate zone experiences hot and humid weather. There is abundant rainfall due to the active vertical uplift or convection of air that takes place there, and during certain periods, thunderstorms can occur every day.
Temperate zones
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of Earth lie between the tropics and the polar regions. The temperatures in these regions are generally relatively moderate, rather than extremely hot or cold, and the changes between summer and winter are also usually moderate.
Polar zones
The polar climate regions are characterized by a lack of warm summers. Every month in a polar climate has an average temperature of less than 10 °C (50 °F). Regions with polar climate cover more than 20% of the Earth.
Topographic effects
Water heats up and cools down more slowly than land. Thus, large bodies of water affect the climates of coastal areas. Many coastal regions are warmer in the winter and cooler than inland areas at similar latitudes. Temperatures in lower atmosphere generally decrease with altitude. Thus, mountain climates are usually cooler than those at sea level. Air rises up one side of the mountain as a result of orographic lifting. The rising air cools, condenses, and drops its moisture.
Air masses
Two of the main causes of weather are the movement and interaction of air masses. Average weather conditions in and near regions of air-mass formation are similar to those exhibited by the air masses themselves.