Weather vs. Climate Overview

Study Notes

Weather refers to the atmospheric conditions over a short period, whereas climate refers to the average atmospheric conditions over long periods.
Weather can change drastically within hours, but climate takes years to change.

Latitude: Areas near the equator receive more direct sunlight, leading to warmer temperatures compared to areas further away from the equator.
Altitude: As altitude increases, temperatures decrease. This is because air becomes less dense at higher altitudes, leading to less heat retention.
Prevailing Winds: Winds blowing from the sea often bring rain to coastal areas, while inland areas tend to be drier.
Topography: Landforms like mountains can create rain shadows, where one side receives significantly less rainfall than the other. Proximity to bodies of water also moderates climate, leading to milder temperatures.
Ocean Currents: Large-scale movement of ocean water affects regional climates. Warm currents bring warmer temperatures, while cold currents bring cooler temperatures.

El Niño: Characterized by warmer-than-average temperatures in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and cooler-than-average temperatures in the Western Pacific Ocean. Trade winds weaken, leading to increased rainfall in the East and decreased rainfall in the West.
La Niña: Characterized by cooler-than-average temperatures in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and warmer-than-average temperatures in the Western Pacific Ocean. Trade winds strengthen, leading to decreased rainfall in the East and increased rainfall in the West.

Köppen's Classification System: Categorizes climates based on temperature, precipitation, and vegetation. Some major climate types include:
- Tropical Climates: Constantly warm temperatures with high rainfall.
- Dry Climates: Cover a significant portion of Earth's landmass and are characterized by low precipitation and high temperatures.
- Mild Climates: Experience moderate temperatures with distinct seasons.
- Continental Climates: Have hot summers and cold winters with moderate precipitation.
- Polar Climates: Characterized by extremely cold temperatures and low precipitation, found near the poles and at high elevations.

Ice Ages: Periods of extensive glacial coverage primarily caused by changes in Earth's tilt and orbital patterns.
Volcanic Eruptions: Release gases and ash into the atmosphere. While some gases like carbon dioxide contribute to warming, volcanic ash can block sunlight, causing cooling.
Solar Activity: Increased sunspot activity can lead to increased solar radiation and warmer temperatures.
Earth's Orbit and Axis: Variations in Earth's orbital shape and tilt, occurring over thousands of years, can influence incoming solar radiation and contribute to climate changes.
Sea Level Fluctuations: Natural processes can cause sea level rise and fall, impacting coastal areas.

Greenhouse Gases: Increasing emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
Deforestation: Removal of forests reduces carbon sinks, leading to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
Land Use Changes: Urbanization, agriculture, and other land use practices can alter the surface albedo (reflectivity) and impact regional climates.