Climatology

Surely you have ever confused meteorology with climatology. Climate is something that concerns everyone because it is what determines how people live. Tradition, culture, ways of life, flora, fauna, vegetation, agriculture, etc. Everything is conditioned by the climate of an area. In order to study the variables that affect the climate of an area we have the science called climatology. It is about the science that studies the climate and all its variations over time.

In this article we are going to talk about everything related to the weather.

What is climatology

Cloud formation

It is a science focused on knowing the effects, functioning and consequences of the existence of the climate in a certain region. For example, in order to know how the different meteorological and climatological variables affect Spain, it is necessary to study data from a much longer record. The parameters and variables of climatology are the same as meteorology, but studied in the long term.

After all, the climate of an area is nothing more than the sum of all the meteorology over time. The set of meteorological phenomena that characterize the usual conditions are those that make up the climate in a long-term study. For a better understanding: let's say that the rainfall and temperature values ​​of an area are recorded continuously over years and years. It is evident that it does not always rain the same or do the same temperatures. However, it is true that these values ​​are in their own range that determines the characteristics of the climate in which we are.

An easy example is the climate of Spain. We enjoy mild temperatures in winter and high temperatures in summer. Average annual rainfall of 650 mm. Does that mean that it always rains the same? No. The values ​​are around that average annual rainfall almost always. Years with more rains will be above and years with more drought will be below.

This is changing globally with the so-called climate change. These are triggering effects in the atmosphere due to the increase in the greenhouse effect that is causing a change in the variables that make up the climate worldwide.

Key features

Weather Station

When in a city, region, hillside, etc. We find a climate different from the climate of the entire area, it is known as a topoclimate. Normally, it is characterized by having a greater effect at the local level than the rest of the geographical factors. It is known as a microclimate that does not have lower divisions and the one that we can find in a room, under a tree or on the corner of a street. These definitions determine the characteristics of the bioclimatic architecture.

Climate can be regular over very long periods and largely determines the evolution of the geographic cycle of a region. This allows that certain types of vegetation and types of soil develop depending on the climatic characteristics. In geological periods, the climate also changes naturally. Times change and the same climate can change within an area. For example, during ice Age, the climate of a specific area varies in its entirety.

You have to observe changes in temperature, atmospheric pressure, winds, humidity and rainfall. These variables are known as weather elements. These data are collected in the weather stations. We can collect these data and prepare tables of average values ​​that are transferred to the different climagrams that show us the variances of all these variables over time.

How to study climatology

Climatology of an area

To study climatology we have to consider several methods that serve to know the meteorological variables and estimate the characteristics:

  • Analytical Climatology. It is the science based on the statistical analysis of the characteristics that are considered most significant for the study of climate. For example, the mean values ​​of all atmospheric elements are established and the probability that they can reach extreme values ​​in certain cases is established.
  • Dynamic climatology. It is the part that provides a more dynamic view of the set of changing manifestations that we can find in the atmosphere. For example, through fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, we can explain the manifestations that we notice of atmospheric changes.
  • Synoptic Climatology. It is the analysis of the configuration of all atmospheric elements. What it aims to achieve is to increase knowledge about the atmosphere.

Climatic factors

Climate characteristics

We are going to list the factors that serve to determine the climatic characteristics of an area. Climatic factors correspond to geographic characteristics. Let's analyze them one by one:

  • Solar energy: It is the levels of solar radiation that affect the surface.
  • Latitude: It is the distance to which an area is located from the terrestrial Equator, further north or south.
  • Altitude and relief: the height above sea level at which the area under study is located and the slope of the relief it has. Mountain areas are not the same as prairie or forest areas.
  • Continentality: It is the location of the continental land without a coastline.
  • Some factors such as the distribution of land, plains, abundance of wooded vegetation, mountains and deserts influence these climatic factors.

Something that you surely know is that the air temperature is fundamental as climatological element. It could be said that it is the key and the basis of all the climatic characteristics of an area. The most important variable from which other multiple factors develop such as the existence of a certain flora and fauna, landscape, relief, etc. This temperature also marks the rainfall regime, air mass circulation and cloud formation.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about climatology and how it is studied in science. Besides the utility it can have.


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