We have shared a number of posts about climate change on our blog. Today, we approach the issue from a new angle. What is climate exactly? Can we touch it, or smell it: is it in the clouds? The answer is none of these, although climate has a bearing on all of them. Climate is the record of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation, and atmospheric particle count over time.
When We Ask What is Climate, Do We Mean Weather Trends?
In a way yes, because ‘weather’ is a short-term condition whereas ‘climate’ places it in context over time. The climate of a particular region depends on its latitude, altitude above sea level, and the proximity of water bodies and their currents.
There are several distinct climate zones, according to their typical range of temperature and precipitation. Hence, when we speak of a hot summer climate for example, we mean the average temperature in the warmest month is above 22 °C / 72 °F. Scientists only started measuring climate variables in the 19th Century. If we want to know what is climate like today compared to a thousand years ago, we use the science of Paleoclimatology.
What Is Paleoclimatology and is it Accurate?
Since we cannot go back in time, Paleoclimatology relies on evidence from the past that has survived. It uses proxy methods to source data from rocks, sediments, ice sheets, tree rings, corals, shells, and microfossils. Then it uses the information to determine Earth’s past climate history within credible limits.
Climate change occurs when average measures of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation, and atmospheric particle count alter semi-permanently. We say ‘semi-permanently because we have no idea what could happen in the future.
We have a peg point: Earth’s climate in the early days of the industrial revolution. Scientists believe this is changing faster than ever before, and in the wrong direction so we should be concerned.
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