Climate

Climate is the average and variations of weather in a
region over long periods of time. The climate of a
location is affected by its latitude, terrain,
persistent ice or snow cover, as well as nearby oceans
and their currents. Climates can be classified using
parameters such as temperature and rainfall to define
specific climate types. The most commonly used
classification scheme is the one originally developed by
Wladimir Koeppen. The Thornthwaite system, in use since
1948, incorporates evapotranspiration in addition to
temperature and precipitation information and is used in
studying animal species diversity and potential impacts
of climate changes. The Bergeron and Spatial Synoptic
Classification systems focus on the origin of air masses
defining the climate for certain areas.

Paleoclimatology is the study and description of ancient
climates using information from both non-biotic factors
such as sediments found in lake beds and ice cores, and
biotic factors such as tree rings and coral, and can be
used to extend back the temperature or rainfall
information for particular locations to a time before
various weather instruments were used to monitor weather
conditions. Climate models are mathematical models of
past, present and future climates and can be used to
describe the likely patterns of future changes.