Climate refers to the long-term patterns of temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation in an area. It is different from weather, which describes short-term atmospheric conditions.
Climate is influenced by various factors including:
Climate is classified into different categories based on temperature and precipitation patterns. The most commonly used classification system is the Köppen climate classification, which includes categories such as tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar climates.
Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions. Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, have significantly contributed to climate change, leading to global warming and its associated impacts such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and loss of biodiversity.