Defining Climate
By: Stormy Rystedt
Annual Averages and Variations
Climatology means: The study of Earth's climate and the factors that cause past, present, and future climate changes. Climate also describes annual variations of temperature, precipitation, wind, and other weather variables. This type of information, combined with comparisons between recent conditions sand long-term averages.
Limitations of Normals
While climate describes the average weather conditions for a region, normals apply only to specific place where the meteorological data were collected. Most meteorological data are gathered at airports, which cannot operate without up to date, accurate weather information.
Climate #1
From rain to sunshine and a rainbow
Climate #2
In the mountains
Climate #3
Nice and sunny
How does weather climate affect us?
Global climate change will affect people and the environment in many ways. Some of these impacts, like stronger hurricanes and severe heat waves, could be life threatening. Others, like spreading weeds, will be less serious. And some effects, like longer growing seasons for crops, might even be good.