8 Climate Basics Free Online FlashCards

What does weather describe?

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, such as its temperature, wind, clouds, or precipitation.

What period do scientists often average to describe climate?

Scientists often use averages over 30-year periods to describe climate.

What basic factor helps create different climate patterns across Earth?

The Sun heats Earth unevenly, which helps produce different climate patterns across the planet.

Name four influences on regional temperature and precipitation.

Elevation, nearby oceans, mountains, and large-scale atmospheric circulation all help shape regional temperature and precipitation patterns.

What five broad climate zones appear in a common classification?

A common classification includes tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar climates.

What is climate variability?

Climate variability is fluctuation around a longer-term climate pattern; it can occur across seasons, between years, or over longer periods.

How do climate variability and climate change differ?

Variability is fluctuation around a climate pattern; climate change is a lasting shift in the pattern itself. Scientists examine many years of observations to identify a long-term shift.

What does climate describe?

Climate describes long-term patterns of weather in a region, including typical temperatures, precipitation, seasonal cycles, and the range of conditions.

What does climate include beyond averages?

Climate includes more than average conditions: it also describes how much conditions vary and how often extremes occur.

Does one cold day prove a place has a cold climate?

No. A cold day alone does not establish a cold climate; it must be compared with the region’s usual conditions and long-term range.

How does latitude influence climate?

Places near the equator receive more direct sunlight through the year; high-latitude regions receive less direct sunlight and have greater seasonal changes.

What additional climate category do some classifications identify?

Some classifications also include highland climates, which are shaped by elevation.