We explain what climate is and what types of climate exist. Also, what are the elements and factors of climate. Weather.
What is climate?
Climate refers to the patterns of variation in temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation and other meteorological conditions of interest in a given geographic region. Climate is usually distinguished from timesince the former means the long-term conditions in the region, while the latter refers to its state in a short period of time.
The various geographic regions of the world have a climate associated and determined by physical factors and relationships between them, in what is known as climate systemsince they operate in an orderly and reciprocal manner, even in cases of extreme climates. Every climate system is made up of five interaction strata: atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere and biosphere, each with particular chemical and physical characteristics.
At the same time, the climate can be studied from historical perspectives (paleoclimate) to understand the formation processes of our planet, including the origin of life; or from projective perspectives, to make predictions and understand the processes currently underway in environmental matters.
The weather is a important factor in the planning of human activities especially in those that require specific and anticipated environmental conditions, such as agriculture. This is why the alterations of climate change and global warming can be so harmful to human life.
Types of climate
There are many technical forms of climate classification, using diverse scales and with specific applications in the study of the subject. However, the simplest classification of all is the one that takes into account the degree of heat of the climate in question, and distinguishes between three possibilities:
- Warm climates. Those that have more constantly high temperatures, such as the equatorial climate, the tropical climate, the arid subtropical climate, and the desert and semi-desert climates.
- Temperate climates. Intermediate instance between warm and cold, with important variations according to the season and a lot of meteorological variability. Such as the humid subtropical, Mediterranean, oceanic and continental climate.
- cold climates. Those in which low temperatures predominate throughout the year, such as polar climates, mountain or tundra climates.
Elements of climate
All climate is made up of a series of elements that are usually measured or evaluated by climatologists to make predictions. These are:
- Atmospheric temperature. This is the degree of heat or cold that exists in the atmospheric air masses, heated mainly by solar radiation.
- atmospheric pressure. This is the pressure exerted in all directions by the air mass of the atmosphere, and which greatly affects the other climatic elements.
- Winds. Pressure variations in the air generate displacements of the gaseous mass that we know as wind, and that allow the distribution of energy and heat in the atmosphere in a more equitable way.
- Humidity. This is the degree of water in a gaseous state that is present in the gases of the atmosphere, a state that it reaches during its water cycle, when it evaporates.
- Precipitation. The abundance of water vapor in the atmosphere leads it to condense in the form of clouds, which, displaced by the wind, collide with each other and release their liquid content, in what we know as rain.
Climate factors
The climate is determined by the interaction of various factors, such as:
- Latitude. The geographical location of the region whose climate is being studied greatly influences the air temperature and the incidence of solar rays, which explains the variation of the seasons and other climatic cycles.
- Altitude. The level of meters above sea level at which a region is located will affect the variables of atmospheric pressure and atmospheric temperature that it presents, according to the rule that states: the higher the altitude, the lower the temperature and the lower the pressure.
- Distance to the sea. The proximity or distance from the coast or from large bodies of water such as important lakes or large rivers largely determines the humidity present in the air of a region.
- Ocean currents. The movements of the ocean waters redistribute the planet's water masses and keep them moving, allowing warm and cold waters to alternate their position and cyclically affect the atmosphere, providing heat or cold as the case may be.
- Relief. The orientation of the geological shape of the Earth's surface can make a region more prone to drought or humidity, as happens with mountains, for example: by stopping humid winds coming from the coast, they absorb moisture and generate dry winds from the coast. other side.
- Wind direction. The atmospheric air mass often moves, allowing cold and hot air to compensate according to factors such as pressure, geography, etc. The action of the winds is key to the climate.
weather
It is known as weather at physical characteristics of the atmosphere at a given moment specifically in the troposphere, where most atmospheric phenomena occur. Thus, temperature, humidity, cloudiness and the degree of movement of the atmosphere are measured, from which it is possible to better understand the climate dynamics of the planet.
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