We explain what the climate is and what types of climate exist. Also, what are the elements and factors of the weather. Atmospheric weather.
What is the weather?
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. The climate is usually distinguished from weather, since by the first we understand the long-term conditions in the region, while by the second, its state in a short period of time. weather.
The various geographical regions of the world have a climate associated and determined by physical factors and relationships between them, in what is known as climate system, since they operate in an orderly and reciprocal manner, even in cases of extreme climates. Every climate system is made up of five layers of interaction: atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere Y 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, among them the origin of the life; or from projective perspectives, to make predictions and understand the processes implemented in environmental matters today.
Climate is an important factor in the planning of human activities, especially those that require specific and anticipated environmental conditions, such as farming. Therefore, the alterations of the climate change and the global warming They can be so harmful to human life.
Types of weather
There are many technical ways of classifying climates, using different scales and with specific applications in the study of climate. matter. However, the simplest classification of all is the one that attends to the degree of heat of the climate in question, and distinguishes between three possibilities:
- Warm climates Those that present higher temperatures more constantly, such as equatorial, tropical, arid subtropical, and 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 climate, the Mediterranean, the oceanic and the continental.
- Cold climates. Those in which low temperatures predominate throughout the year, such as polar climates, the climate of Mountain or from tundra.
Weather elements
Every climate is made up of a series of elements that are usually measured or evaluated by climatologists to make predictions. These are:
- Atmospheric temperature It is the degree of heat or cold that exists in the masses of air atmospheric, heated mainly by solar radiation.
- Atmospheric pressure. It's about the Pressure exerted in all directions by the air mass of the atmosphere, and that 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 the Energy Y heat in the atmosphere more evenly.
- Humidity. It is about the degree of Water in a gaseous state that is present in the gases of the atmosphere, a state that reaches during its water cycle, by evaporating.
- Precipitation. Abundance of water steam in the atmosphere it leads it to condense in the form of clouds, which, when 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 studied has a huge influence on air temperature and the incidence of sunlight, which explains the variation of the seasons and other climatic cycles.
- Altitude. The level of meters above sea level at which a region is, 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 pressure.
- Distance to the sea. The proximity or remoteness of the coast or of 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 oceanic waters redistribute the planet's water masses and keep them in displacement, 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 in the case of mountains, for example: by stopping the humid winds coming from the coast, they absorb the humidity and generate dry winds from the other side.
- Wind direction. The atmospheric air mass is often displaced, allowing hot and cold airs to offset their effect according to factors such as pressure, geography, etc. The action of the winds is key in the climate.
Atmospheric weather
Atmospheric weather is known as the physical characteristics of the atmosphere at a given moment, specifically in the troposphere, where most of the events occur. atmospheric phenomena. Thus, the temperature, humidity, cloudiness and degree of movement of the atmosphere are measured, from which it is possible to better understand the dynamics climatic conditions of the planet.