Climatology

Climate change

  1. Climate change refers to significant, long-term changes in the Earth’s climate patterns.
  2. It is driven by both natural factors and human activities.
  3. Key natural factors include volcanic eruptions, variations in solar radiation, and changes in Earth’s orbit.
  4. Human-induced climate change is primarily caused by the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
  5. Burning of fossil fuels, de

Clouds and precipitation

  1. Clouds are visible masses of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.
  2. They form when air rises, cools, and reaches its dew point, leading to condensation.
  3. Condensation nuclei, such as dust and pollen, are essential for cloud formation.
  4. Clouds are classified based on their appearance, altitude, and formation process.
  5. The primary cloud types are cirrus, cumulus, stratus, and nimbus.

Pressure belts and winds

  1. The Earth’s atmosphere is divided into distinct pressure belts due to uneven heating of its surface.
  2. There are seven pressure belts around the Earth: Equatorial low, Subtropical highs (two), Subpolar lows (two), and Polar highs (two).
  3. The Equatorial low-pressure belt, or the doldrums, lies around the equator (0°-5° latitude).
  4. This region experiences intense solar heating, causing air to rise and creating low pressure.
  5. The Subtropical high-pressure belts are located aroun

Weather and climate

  1. Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions of a specific place at a specific time.
  2. Climate is the average weather pattern of a region over a long period, typically 30 years or more.
  3. Weather elements include temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and atmospheric pressure.
  4. Climate factors include latitude, altitude, proximity to water bodies, and ocean currents.
  5. Weather is highly variable and can change within hours or days.
  6. Climate

Atmosphere

  1. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases surrounding the Earth, essential for sustaining life.
  2. It consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases, including argon, carbon dioxide, and trace gases.
  3. The atmosphere is divided into five layers based on temperature variations.
  4. Troposphere: The lowest layer, where most weather phenomena occur and life exists.
  5. The average height of the troposphere is about 12 km, but it va
Climatology