GGR112H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Microthermal, Climatology, Mesothermal
Document Summary
Climate is a synthesis of weather phenomena at many scales, from planetary to local, in contrast to weather, which is the condition of the atmosphere at any given time and place. Earth experiences a wide variety of climatic conditions that can be grouped by general similarities into climatic regions. Climatology is the study of climate and attempts to discern similar weather statistics and identify climatic regions. The principal factors that influence climates on earth include isolation, energy imbalances between the equator and the poles, temperature, air pressure, air masses, and atmospheric moisture (including humidity and the supply of moisture from precipitation). Classification is the ordering or grouping of data or phenomena into categories. A genetic classification is one based on causative factors, such as the interaction of air masses. An empirical classification is one based on statistical data, such as temperature or precipitation. This text analyzes climate using aspects of both approaches.
