Climatology Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Climatology?
Climatology is the scientific study of climate, defined as weather conditions averaged over a long period of time. Climatologists study how climate patterns and changes affect the environment, agriculture, human health and economics. They also examine past climates to gain an understanding of how climate patterns have changed over time.The field of climatology is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from physical geography, atmospheric science, computer science and other disciplines to understand why certain climates exist and how they may change in the future. Climatologists use a variety of data sources including historical records, satellite images, weather station records and numerical models to track current climate trends and make predictions about future trends.Climatologists are concerned with understanding the causes of modern-day climate change as well as projecting future changes that may result from human activities or natural phenomena such as El Niño/La Niña events or volcanic eruptions. This knowledge can help inform decisions related to land use planning and infrastructure development such as flood control systems or coastal defenses against rising sea levels. In addition, government agencies use climatic data to set policies for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions that drive global warming. In order to help reduce the impacts of extreme weather events on society such as drought or hurricanes which have become more frequent due to global warming and climate change, climatologists advise governments on strategies for adaptation and mitigation that take into account regional differences in climate patterns. For example, they might suggest planting certain species of trees in areas prone to flooding which would help absorb excess water in heavy rains while providing habitat for wildlife at the same time. Climatology has enabled us to better understand our planet’s complex systems which can benefit humanity in many ways today by helping us prepare for possible future disruptions due to changing climates around the worldfrom severe droughts leading to food insecurity in some regions while others experience flooding due coastal erosion or sea level rise caused by melting polar ice caps.