1) Distinguish weather from climate;

Weather plays a significant role in our lives, as most of our day to day
activities are planned according to the forecasting made by the
meteorological department for a particular day. It is the intricate
phenomenon, which demonstrates changes over very short periods of time,
in the atmospheric condition at a given region. On the
contrary, climate indicates the weather pattern of a particular place, taken
over a long time.

Often perceived as being the one and the same thing, these two terms are actually
different that are closely related to each other. There is difference between
weather and climate, regarding the time length and the factors affecting them. So,
read out the article to have a better understanding of the two terms.

Content: Weather Vs Climate

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

BASIS FOR
WEATHER CLIMATE
COMPARISON

Meaning Weather is everyday Climate alludes to standard

atmospheric condition of a pattern of weather of a
particular region, as regards particular place, taken over
temperature, humidity, wind more than 25 years.
speed, etc.

What is it? Minute by minute state of Average weather in a

atmosphere in an area. region.

Represents What are the condition of In what way atmosphere

atmosphere in a geographical acts over typically long
location, over short period. period.
 BASIS FOR
WEATHER CLIMATE
COMPARISON

Variation Varies constantly. Does not vary constantly.

Affected by Temperature, humidity, air Temperature and

pressure, cloudiness, Precipitation.
precipitation etc.

Assessment For short term Over a long period

Study Meterology Climatology

Definition of Weather

Simply put, weather denotes the daily atmospheric condition, concerning various
elements like temperature, precipitation, moisture, cloudiness, wind velocity and
air pressure. It expresses the position of the atmosphere at a specified place and
time, in degrees, i.e. hot or cold, clear or cloudy, dry or wet.

It constantly changes, i.e. hour after hour and day after day. Weather forecasting
is the difficult task, as many times, it happens that on a sunny day, suddenly
heavy rains occur or the sunshine occurs immediately after heavy rains.

The Sun is the fundamental cause of changes in weather because it is the primary
source of energy to earth. The energy absorbed and emitted by the earth’s
atmosphere, surface and oceans have a great role to play in ascertaining weather
of the region. Moreover, winds and storms also result in the changes in weather.

Definition of Climate

The term ‘climate’, is used to mean weather trends at a specific region, over the
course of many years. It is the statistical information of weather which signifies
that common atmospheric pattern, in an area over decades, i.e. it does not
indicate the weather changes occurring daily or weekly. So, when we observe that
the temperature of a country is highest, then it means the climate of the place is
very hot.
The climate of a place is greatly affected by two factors, which are temperature
and precipitation, and other factors influencing it includes wind velocity, the
sunshine, precipitation timing, humidity and so on. The standard length of time
used to ascertain the climate of an area is 30 years.

Key Differences Between Weather and Climate

The points given below are substantial so far as the difference between weather
and climate is concerned:

1. Weather is the routine atmospheric condition of a specific region, as

regards temperature, humidity, windspeed, etc. On the other hand, climate
implies the standard pattern of weather of a particular place, taken over a
period.
2. Weather is the moment-wise state of the atmosphere of a geographical
area. As against this, the climate is the average weather in a given region.
3. Weather is the condition of the atmosphere in a given region, over a short
period. Unlike climate which refers to the way, atmostphere behaves, over
the typically long period.
4. Weather of a place can change in few hours or even in few minutes, i.e. it
changes frequently. However, the climate of a place takes several years to
change, and thus it does not change frequently.
5. Weather is greatly affected by factors like temperature, humidity, air
pressure, cloudiness, precipitation, etc. On the contrary, temperature and
precipitation are the two key factors which influence climate.
6. While the weather is assessed for a short period, i.e. for day or week by the
meteorological department. Conversely, the climate is assessed over the
course of many years.
7. The study of weather is called meteorology whereas climatic study is
termed as climatology.
Conclusion

To sum up, we can say that weather is nothing but how a specific region feels at a
particular moment. The data for ascertaining weather are recorded at a particular
time. On the flip side, the climate is the general weather at a particular place, i.e.
the aggregate of weather components recorded over a long period.
 EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLIMATE ZONES:

The five primary classifications can be further divided into secondary classifications such as
rainforest, monsoon, tropical savanna, humid subtropical, humid continental, oceanic climate,
Mediterranean climate, desert, steppe, subarctic climate, tundra, and polar ice cap.

There are approximately five main climate types on Earth:

 Tropical
 Dry
 Temperate
 Continental
 Polar

Climate is the average weather conditions in a place over a long period of time—30
years or more. And as you probably already know, there are lots of different types of
climates on Earth.

For example, hot regions are normally closest to the equator. The climate is hotter there
because the Sun’s light is most directly overhead at the equator. And the North and
South Poles are cold because the Sun’s light and heat are least direct there.

he snow-covered peaks of the Chigmit Range during winter. Credit: NPS/M. Cahill 2015

Using this information, in the late 1800s and early 1900s a German climate scientist
named Wladimir Koppen divided the world's climates into categories. His categories
were based on the temperature, the amount of precipitation, and the times of year when
precipitation occurs. The categories were also influenced by a region’s latitude—the
imaginary lines used to measure our Earth from north to south from the equator.

Today, climate scientists split the Earth into approximately five main types of climates.
They are:

A: Tropical. In this hot and humid zone, the average temperatures are greater than
64°F (18°C) year-round and there is more than 59 inches of precipitation each year.

B: Dry. These climate zones are so dry because moisture is rapidly evaporated from
the air and there is very little precipitation.

C: Temperate. In this zone, there are typically warm and humid summers with
thunderstorms and mild winters.
D. Continental. These regions have warm to cool summers and very cold winters. In
the winter, this zone can experience snowstorms, strong winds, and very cold
temperatures—sometimes falling below -22°F (-30°C)!

E: Polar. In the polar climate zones, it’s extremely cold. Even in summer, the
temperatures here never go higher than 50°F (10°C)!

This is roughly where those climate zones appear on a globe:

Earth has three main climate zones—tropical, temperate, and polar. These
zones can be further divided into smaller zones, each with its own typical
climate. A region’s climate, together with its physical characteristics,
determines its plant and animal life.

CLIMATE ZONE CLASSIFICATION

POLAR AND TUNDRA

Polar climates are cold and dry, with long, dark winters. In the tundra (a
treeless region bordering the Arctic), temperatures rise above freezing for only
a few months each year.

BOREAL FOREST

Boreal (cold coniferous) forests lie south of the tundra, stretching across much
of northern Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia. Temperatures fall below
freezing for 4–6 months a year.

MOUNTAIN

On mountains, the temperature decreases with altitude (height), and many

high peaks are always covered in snow. Mountain climates are usually wetter
and windier than lowland regions.
TEMPERATE FOREST

Temperate climates have warm summers and cool winters with year-round
rain or snow. Temperate forests are characterized by deciduous trees, which
lose their leaves during the winter.

MEDITERRANEAN

A Mediterranean climate is found in regions bordering the Mediterranean Sea,

and in Australia and California. It is characterized by hot, dry summers and
cool, wet winters.

DESERT

Earth’s deserts are hot and dry year-round, and usually receive less than 10 in
(250 mm) of rainfall a year. Deserts are often found in the center of
continents, far from the sea.

DRY GRASSLAND

Dry grasslands are found in the center of continents where temperate

variations are extreme. They have hot summers, cold winters, and little
rainfall, so very few trees can grow there.

TROPICAL GRASSLAND

Tropical grasslands, such as the African savanna, lie between desert areas
and tropical rainforests. The climate is hot all year, but with a distinct wet
season and dry season.

TROPICAL RAINFOREST

Tropical rainforests are found in regions near the equator. Here, the climate is
hot and wet all year, with temperatures remaining at around 80–82ºF (27–
28ºC).
WHAT IS A MICROCLIMATE?
A small area with a different climate to its surroundings is said to have its own
microclimate. Examples include a city or a rooftop garden. The temperature in
cities may be around 11ºF (6ºC) warmer than the surrounding countryside
because buildings and paved streets hold the Sun’s heat longer than
vegetation. Artificial heating in buildings also contributes to higher city
temperatures.

HAS THE EARTH’S CLIMATE CHANGED OVER

TIME?
Over the past two million years, Earth’s climate has slowly changed. Long,
cold periods called ice ages, or glacials, have been interspersed with warmer
periods. The last ice age ended about 10,000 years ago. At its height, all of
northern Europe and parts of North America, Siberia, New Zealand,
Tasmania, and the southernmost tip of South America were covered by ice
sheets up to 3,300 ft (1,000 m) thick.

WILL EARTH’S CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE

FUTURE?
Some scientists believe that Earth will enter another ice age in a few thousand
years. However, almost all scientists believe that pollution caused by human
activities is slowly causing the planet to grow warmer—a phenomenon called
global warming.
The 5-category Köppen Climate Classification System defines categories usuing temperature
and precipitation:

A - Tropical Moist Climates: all months have average temperatures above 18° Celsius.

B - Dry Climates: with deficient precipitation during most of the year.

C - Moist Mid-latitude Climates with Mild Winters.

D - Moist Mid-Latitude Climates with Cold Winters.

E - Polar Climates: with extremely cold winters and summers.

You could also form categories empirically by observing plant hardiness. For example, the
USDA maps twelve hardiness zones.

2. critically examine the micro and macro climatic effects on the present and future generations:

acro and Micro Climate Climate

The climate of the earth consists of a series of interlinked physical systems

powered by the sun.

In the built environment we are generally concerned with local climatic

systems in particular:

Macro-climate the climate of a larger area such as a region or a country

Micro-climate the variations in localised climate around a building

The macro and micro climate has a very important effect on both the energy
performance and environmental performance of buildings, both in the heating
season and in summer.

The site and design of a building can have a profound effect upon the
interaction between a building and its environment.

The building site affects exposure to the prevailing wind, the solar radiation
the building receives, pollution levels, temperatures and rain penetration.

Site and macro climate

The orientation of the building affects solar gains and exposure to the
prevailing wind (ventilation).

The location of neighbouring trees and buildings affects the solar gains
(shading) and wind patterns.

Neighbouring trees and buildings also protect the building from driving rain.

Macro Climate

The macro climate around a building cannot be affected by any

design changes, however the building design can be developed with a
knowledge of the macro climate in which the building is located. General
climatic data give an idea of the local climatic severity:

· Seasonal accumulated temperature difference (degree day) are a measure

of the outside air temperature, though do not acount for available solar

· Typical wind speeds and direction

· Annual totals of Global Horizontal Solar Radiation

· The driving rain index (DRI) relates to the amount of moisture contained in
exposed surfaces and will affect thermal conductivity of external surfaces.

This Metereological data gives a general impression of the climate at the site
of a building and the building design can be planned accordingly. However the
building itself and surrounding geography will affect the local climate.

Micro-Climate

The site of a building may have a many micro climates caused by the
presence of hills valleys, slopes, streams and other buildings.

Micro Climate – Effect of Local Terrain

Surrounding slopes have important effects on air movement, especially at the

bottom of a hollow. In hollows air warmed by the rises upwards due to
buoyancy effects (anabatic flow), to be replaced by cooler air drifting down the
slope (katabatic flow).

The result is that valey floors are significantly colder than locations part way
up the slope. Katabatic flows often result in frosts persisting for longer in low
lying locations. The most favourable location in a valley is known as the
thermal belt, lying just above the level to which pools of cold air build up, but
below the height at which exposure to wind increases.

The crests of hills and ridges have unfavourable wind velocity profiles, the
wind flow is compressed (as happens with an aerofoil) leading to high wind
velocities.

Micro-Climate – Effects of Buildings

Buildings themselves create further micro-climates by shading the ground,

changing wind flow patterns.

One example of how buildings affect the local climate is the heat island effect
in large cities where the average temperature is higher than the surrounding
area:

Solar energy absorbed and re-emitted from building surfaces, pavements

roads etc. creates a warming effect on the surrounding air. Also the large
quantities of buildings break up the wind flow, reducing wind speeds and
causing the warm air to remain stagnant in the city. This also causes
increased pollution as well as temperatures.

The presence of local high rise buildings can degrade the local climate as
wind speed at ground level can be significantly increased, while extensive
shadows block access to sunlight for long periods, increasing space heating
costs in surrounding buildings.

Improving Micro Climate through Design

The aims of enhancing Micro-Climate around Buildings:

· Reduce costs of winter heating

· Reduce summer overheating and the need for cooling

· Maximise outdoor comfort in summer and winter

Also:

· Improve durability of building material (reduced rain penetration)

· Provide a better visual environment in spaces around buildings

· Encourage growth of plants

· Discourage growth of mosses and algae

· Facilitate open air drying of clothes

Means of enhancing the micro climate around a building include:

Solar Access:

Allow maximum daylight into space and buildings

Allow maximum solar radiation into space and buildings

Shade space and windows from prolonged exposure to summer sun

Protect space and windows from glare

Wind Protection

Protect space and buildings from prevailing winds and cold (e.g. North/East)
winds.

Prevent buildings and terrain features from generating turbulence

Protect spaces and buildings from driving rain and snow

Protect space and buildings from katabatic flows, while retaining enough air

movement to disperse pollutants

Features

Provide thermal mass to moderate extreme temperatures

Use vegetation for sun shading and wind protection (transpiration helps
moderate high temperatures).

Provide surfaces that drain readily.

Provide water for cooling be evaporation (pools and fountains)

Factors Affecting Micro Climate

Outside Designers Control

Within Designer’s Remit

Area and local climate

Spacing and orientation of buildings

Site surroundings
Location of open spaces
Site shape

Form and height of buildings

Topographic features

Fenestration

Surrounding Buildings
Tree cover

Ground profiling

Wind breaks

Surrounding surfaces (paving grass etc)

Two main possibilities for influencing Micro Climate are Solar Access and
Wind

Control

Solar Access

Solar access to a site is often a case of minimising solar overheating in

summer while maximising solar access during the winter.

Buildings with a heating requirement should be orientated north south with

maximum glazing on the south face.

Deciduous trees offer an excellent means of site shading, with shading being
reduced in winter when the trees lose their leaves.

The colour of surrounding surfaces will have a pronounced effect on the solar

radiation available to the building. Light coloured paving will increase the
radiation reflected from the ground into the building. Paving stones will also
provide external thermal mass, moderating temperature swings immediately
adjacent to the building.

Grass planted outside a building will reduce the ground reflected solar.

Use of courtyards and water can also moderate the effects of high
temperatures on summer.

Wind Control

The form of the building can have a great effect on the impact of the wind:

· Avoidance of the building flank facing the wind

· Avoidance of funnel-like gaps between buildings

· Avoidance of flat roofed buildings and cubical forms

· Avoid piercing buildings at ground level

· Avoid abrupt changes in building heights

· Orientate long axis of the building parallel to the direction of the wind

· Use podium to limit down draught at ground level

· Use pitched rather than flat roofs and stepped forms for higher buildings

· Groups of buildings can be arranged inirregular patterns to avoid wind

tunneling.

Coniferous trees and fencing and other landscape features such as mounds
of earth and hedges can also reduce the impact of wind and driving rain on
the building

structure.

Enhanced Micro Climate and Energy Saving

Increased external air temperature leading to reduced space heating

reduction:

increase solar access to site, wind protection, external thermal mass, quick
drying surfaces.

Reduced Air Change Rate, internal air movement and decreased external
surface connective heat transfer: reduced pressure driven ventilation by wind
protection.

Reduced moisture effects on fabric: less wetting of fabric and energy loss due
to evaporation from wet surfaces by protecting from driving rain and providing
adequate surface drainage.
CLIMATE:

Climate is defined as an area's long-term weather patterns. The simplest way to describe climate is to
look at average temperature and precipitation over time. Other useful elements for describing climate
include the type and the timing of precipitation, amount of sunshine, average wind speeds and
directions, number of days above freezing, weather extremes, and local geography.

Climate Zones

The worldwide system of winds, which transports warm and cold air very great
distances away from the source regions, influences significantly the climates of
the world. This worldwide wind system is called the general circulation of the
atmosphere, and it gives rise to the Earth's climate zones. Although the changing
of the seasons and the positions of large oceans and continental landmasses
affect these climate zones, they provide a general approximation to the different
types of climate seen on Earth.

The Earth's general circulation arises as a result of the temperature difference

between the equator and the poles. This latitudinal temperature gradient
produces atmospheric pressure differences which generate winds that transport
the equatorial heat north and south to higher latitudes. The Earth's rotation
however, deflects the northerly and southerly components of this atmospheric circulation, by means of the
Coriolis force, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and anticlockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Thus,
global winds tend to be more easterly and westerly rather than northerly and southerly.

A number of climate zones or belts can be traced between the equator and the pole in each hemisphere.
Centred roughly on the equator is the tropical or equatorial zone, a belt of relatively low atmospheric
pressure and heavy rainfall associated with thunderstorms, due to the rising air. Historically, the zone
became known to sailors as the Doldrums because, with the very light winds, ships would often spend many
weeks stuck at sea.

At about 30� north and south of the equator is a subtropical climate belt of generally dry descending air,
associated with high atmospheric pressure and clear skies. In the Northern Hemisphere, the belt is centred
over the Sahara in Africa and is sometimes called the Azores High. Daytime surface temperatures can often
exceed 40�C, whilst at night, the extensive heat loss due to lack of cloud cover can lower temperatures
close to freezing. The intense heat and lack of rainfall is typical of the desert climate which is commonly
found in the subtropical zone. During the Northern Hemisphere summer, the subtropical zone moves
northward to influence the Mediterranean region. Mediterranean climates are characterised by hot dry
summers, but much cooler and wetter winters than truly subtropical climates nearer the equator.

Between the subtropical and equatorial zones trade winds blow, north-easterly in the Northern Hemisphere
and south-easterly in the Southern Hemisphere. These regions are much drier than the equatorial zone, but
receive more rainfall than the desert climates. These regions are often characterised by Savannah, scrub
and grassland which blossoms during the rainy season and dies off during the prolonged dry season.

In the mid-latitudes around 50� to 60� north and south there is a belt of cyclonic low pressure, arising
from the convergence of cold polar easterly winds and warm subtropical westerly antitrades. In the Northern
Hemisphere, cyclonic depressions tend to develop in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. These regions are
known respectively as the Icelandic and Aleutian Lows. They are characterized by relatively mild, moist
winds that tend to bring frequent cyclonic precipitation (rain and snow), particularly along the west-facing
side of continents. The precipitation tends to develop along warm and cold fronts, where cold air from the
polar easterlies forces the warm, moist air of the westerlies to rise, which, on cooling, releases the moisture
as clouds and ultimately rain and snow. Climate in the mid-latitudes is usually temperate.

At the highest latitudes in the polar regions, the cold air sinks producing high atmospheric pressure.
The polar climates here are characterised by dry, icy winds that tend to radiate outward from the poles.
Significance of the coastal zone management:

ICZM is a dynamic, multidisciplinary and iterative process to promote

sustainablemanagement of coastal zones. ... It means integration of all relevant policy areas,
sectors, and levels of administration. It means integration of the terrestrial and marine
components of the target territory, in both time and space.

Coastal zone management involves managing coastal areas

to balance environmental, economic, human health, and
humanactivities.
The concept of coastal zone management is a relatively new one, emerging less than four decades ago
from the need to tackle an array of interconnected problems associated with population growth and
development along our nation’s coasts.

The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) was passed in 1972 and provided a formal structure to
address the challenges of continued growth in coastal areas. Administered by NOAA, the CZMA
recognizes that ensuring access to clean water and healthy ecosystems that support a vibrant coastal
economy requires effectively integrating science, technology, and public policy. The goals of the CZMA
are to “preserve, protect, develop, enhance, and restore where possible, the coastal resources.”

One program under the CZMA, the National Coastal Zone Management Program, encourages coastal
states and territories to work in partnership with the federal government to design and enforce local
programs consistent with the CZMA and accompanying regulations. Today, 34 of the 35 eligible coastal
and Great Lakes states and territories have entered into the voluntary partnership.

As a result of the Coastal Zone Management Act and the success of its programs, coastal communities
are equipped to better address continued economic development of the coastal zone while accounting for
natural resource management. This will ensure the health and stability of the coast, both environmentally
and economically, into the long-term future.

EL-NINO EFFECT:

An El Niño is a temporary change in the climate of the Pacific ocean, in the region around the
equator. You can see its effects in both the ocean and atmosphere, generally in Northern
Hemisphere winter. Typically, the ocean surface warms up by a few degrees Celsius.

El Niño is a climate cycle in the Pacific Ocean with a global impact on weather patterns.

The cycle begins when warm water in the western tropical Pacific Ocean shifts
eastward along the equator toward the coast of South America. Normally, this warm
water pools near Indonesia and the Philippines. During an El Niño, the Pacific's
warmest surface waters sit offshore of northwestern South America.

Forecasters declare an official El Niño when they see both ocean temperatures and
rainfall from storms veer to the east. Experts also look for prevailing trade winds to
weaken and even reverse direction during the El Niño climate phenomenon. These
changes set up a feedback loop between the atmosphere and the ocean that boosts El
Niño conditions. The El Niño forecast for 2015 is expected to be one of the strongest on
record, according to Mike Halpert, the deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center,
part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"We don't want to see just the warming in the ocean. We want to see the atmosphere
above the ocean respond to the changes," said Michelle L'Heureux, a climate scientist
and lead for the El Niño forecasting team at the Climate Prediction Center.

The location of tropical storms shifts eastward during an El Niño because atmospheric
moisture is fuel for thunderstorms, and the greatest amount of evaporation takes place
above the ocean's warmest water.

There is also an opposite of an El Niño, called La Niña. This refers to times when waters
of the tropical eastern Pacific are colder than normal and trade winds blow more
strongly than usual.

Collectively, El Niño and La Niña are parts of an oscillation in the ocean-atmosphere

system called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO cycle, which also has a neutral
phase.

What causes an El Niño?

Scientists do not yet understand in detail what triggers an El Niño cycle. Not all El Niños
are the same, nor do the atmosphere and ocean always follow the same patterns from
one El Niño to another.

"There isn't one big cause, which is one of the reasons why we can't predict this thing
perfectly," L'Heureux said. "There is some predictability in the common features that
arise with El Nino, which is why we can make forecasts of it. But it won't be exactly the
same every time."

To forecast an El Niño, scientists monitor temperatures in the upper 656 feet (200
meters) of the ocean. They are watching for the telltale temperature shift from the
western Pacific to the eastern Pacific. For example, in spring 2014, a very strong warm
water swell called a "Kelvin wave" crossed the Pacific, leading some forecasters to
predict a powerful El Niño for winter 2014. However, their forecast fizzled by fall
because storms and trade winds never followed suit, and the feedbacks between
atmosphere and ocean failed to develop.

"El Niños are never inevitable," L'Heureux said.

How often do El Niños occur?

El Niños occur every three to five years but may come as frequently as every two years
or as rarely as every seven years. Typically, El Niños occur more frequently than La
Niñas. Each event usually lasts nine to 12 months. They often begin to form in spring,
reach peak strength between December and January, and then decay by May of the
following year.

Their strength can vary considerably between cycles. One of the strongest in recent
decades was the El Niño that developed the winter of 1997-98. "Everyone associates
the word El Niño with that event, but that was a rare, once-in-a-century event," notes
L'Heureux.

El Niño was originally named El Niño de Navidad by Peruvian fishermen in the 1600s.
This name was used for the tendency of the phenomenon to arrive around Christmas.
Climate records of El Niño go back millions of years, with evidence of the cycle found in
ice cores, deep sea muds, coral, caves and tree rings.

What happens when El Niño is not present?

In normal, non-El Niño conditions, trade winds blow toward the west across the tropical
Pacific, away from South America. These winds pile up warm surface water in the west
Pacific, so that the sea surface is about 1 to 2 feet (0.3 m to 0.6 m) higher offshore
Indonesia than across the Pacific, offshore Ecuador.

The sea-surface temperature is also about 14 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius)

warmer in the west. Cooler ocean temperatures dominate offshore northwest South
America, due to an upwelling of cold water from deeper levels. This nutrient-rich cold
water supports diverse marine ecosystems and major fisheries.

When an El Niño kicks in

During an El Niño, the trade winds weaken in the central and western Pacific. Surface
water temperatures off South America warm up, because there is less upwelling of the
cold water from below to cool the surface. The clouds and rainstorms associated with
warm ocean waters also shift toward the east. The warm waters release so much
energy into the atmosphere that weather changes all over the planet.

Among the known effects of El Niño

The warmer waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean have important
effects on the world's weather. The greatest impacts are generally not felt until winter or
spring over the Northern Hemisphere, L'Heureux said. The 1982-83 El Niño is estimated
to have caused more than $10 billion in weather-related damage worldwide. [How El
Niño Causes Wild Weather All Over the Globe]

An El Niño creates stronger wind-shear and more-stable air over the Atlantic, which
makes it harder for hurricanes to form. However, the warmer-than-average ocean
temperatures boost eastern Pacific hurricanes, contributing to more-active tropical
storm seasons.

Strong El Niños are also associated with above-average precipitation in the southern
tier of the United States from California to the Atlantic coast. The cloudier weather
typically causes below-average winter temperatures for those states, while
temperatures tilt warmer-than-average in the northern tier of the United States. Rainfall
is often below average in the Ohio and Tennessee valleys and the Pacific Northwest
during an El Niño.

Record rainfall often strikes Peru, Chile and Ecuador during an El Niño year. Fish
catches offshore South America are typically lower than normal because the marine life
migrates north and south, following colder water.

El Niño also affects precipitation in other areas, including Indonesia and northeastern
South America, which tend toward drier-than-normal conditions. Temperatures in
Australia and Southeast Asia run hotter than average. El Niño-caused drought can be
widespread, affecting southern Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Pacific
Islands and the Canadian prairies.

Factors affecting climate

Factors affecting climate tutorial

There are many different factors that affect climate around the world. It is the varying influence of these factors that

lead to different parts of the Earth experiencing differing climates. The most important natural factors are:

 distance from the sea

 ocean currents

 direction of prevailing winds

 shape of the land (known as 'relief' or 'topography')

 distance from the equator

 the El Niño phenomenon.

It is now widely accepted that human activity is also affecting climate, and that the impact is not the same

everywhere. For example, changes appear to be happening faster near the poles than in many other places. In this

tutorial we will look at some of these factors in more detail.

Distance from the sea (Continentality)

The sea affects the climate of a place. Coastal areas are cooler and wetter than inland areas. Clouds form when

warm air from inland areas meets cool air from the sea. The centre of continents are subject to a large range of

temperatures. In the summer, temperatures can be very hot and dry as moisture from the sea evaporates before it

reaches the centre of the land mass.

Ocean currents
Ocean currents can increase or reduce temperatures. The diagram below shows the ocean currents of the world

(view original source map). The main ocean current that affects the UK is the Gulf Stream.

The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current in the North Atlantic flowing from the Gulf of Mexico, northeast along the

U.S coast, and from there to the British Isles.

The Gulf of Mexico has higher air temperatures than Britain as it is closer to the equator. This means that the air

coming from the Gulf of Mexico to Britain is also warm. However, the air is also quite moist as it travels over the

Atlantic ocean. This is one reason why Britain often receives wet weather.

The Gulf Stream keeps the west coast of Europe free from ice in the winter and, in the summer, warmer than other

places of a similar latitude.

Direction of prevailing winds

Winds that blow from the sea often bring rain to the coast and dry weather to

inland areas. Winds that blow to Britain from warm inland areas such as Africa will be warm and dry. Winds that

blow to Britain from inland areas such as central Europe will be cold and dry in winter. Britain's prevailing (i.e. most

frequently experienced) winds come from a south westerly direction over the Atlantic. These winds are cool in the

summer, mild in the winter and tend to bring wet weather.

The shape of the land ('relief')

 Climate can be affected by mountains. Mountains receive more rainfall than

low lying areas because as air is forced over the higher ground it cools, causing moist air to condense and fall out as

rainfall.

The higher the place is above sea level the colder it will be. This happens because as altitude increases, air

becomes thinner and is less able to absorb and retain heat. That is why you may see snow on the top of mountains

all year round.

Distance from the equator

The distance from the equator affects the climate of a place. At the poles, energy from the sun reaches the Earth's

surface at lower angles and passes through a thicker layer of atmosphere than at the equator. This means the

climate is cooler further from the Equator. The poles also experience the greatest difference between summer and

winter day lengths: in the summer there is a period when the sun does not set at the poles; conversely the poles also

experience a period of total darkness during winter. In contrast, daylength varies little at the equator.

El Niño
El Niño, which affects wind and rainfall patterns, has been blamed for droughts and floods in countries around the

Pacific Rim. El Niño refers to the irregular warming of surface water in the Pacific. The warmer water pumps energy

and moisture into the atmosphere, altering global wind and rainfall patterns. The phenomenon has caused tornadoes

in Florida, smog in Indonesia, and forest fires in Brazil.

El Niño is Spanish for 'the Boy Child' because it comes about the time of the celebration of the birth of the Christ

Child. The cold counterpart to El Niño is known as La Niña, Spanish for 'the girl child', and it also brings with it

weather extremes.

Human influence

The factors above affect the climate naturally. However, we cannot forget the
influence of humans on our climate. Early on in human history our effect on the climate would have been quite
small. However, as populations increased and trees were cut down in large numbers, so our influence on the climate

increased. Trees take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. A reduction in trees will therefore have increased the

amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The Industrial Revolution, starting at the end of the 19th Century, has had a huge effect on climate. The invention of

the motor engine and the increased burning of fossil fuels have increased the amount of carbon dioxide (a

greenhouse gas - more on that later) in the atmosphere. T

The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current in the North Atlantic flowing from the Gulf of Mexico, northeast along the

U.S coast, and from there to the British Isles.

The Gulf of Mexico has higher air temperatures than Britain as it is closer to the equator. This means that the air

coming from the Gulf of Mexico to Britain is also warm. However, the air is also quite moist as it travels over the

Atlantic ocean. This is one reason why Britain often receives wet weather.

The Gulf Stream keeps the west coast of Europe free from ice in the winter and, in the summer, warmer than other

places of a similar latitude.

Direction of prevailing winds

Winds that blow from the sea often bring rain to the coast and dry weather to

inland areas. Winds that blow to Britain from warm inland areas such as Africa will be warm and dry. Winds that

blow to Britain from inland areas such as central Europe will be cold and dry in winter. Britain's prevailing (i.e. most

frequently experienced) winds come from a south westerly direction over the Atlantic. These winds are cool in the

summer, mild in the winter and tend to bring wet weather.

The shape of the land ('relief')

 Climate can be affected by mountains. Mountains receive more rainfall than

low lying areas because as air is forced over the higher ground it cools, causing moist air to condense and fall out as

rainfall.

The higher the place is above sea level the colder it will be. This happens because as altitude increases, air

becomes thinner and is less able to absorb and retain heat. That is why you may see snow on the top of mountains

all year round.

Distance from the equator

The distance from the equator affects the climate of a place. At the poles, energy from the sun reaches the Earth's

surface at lower angles and passes through a thicker layer of atmosphere than at the equator. This means the

climate is cooler further from the Equator. The poles also experience the greatest difference between summer and

winter day lengths: in the summer there is a period when the sun does not set at the poles; conversely the poles also

experience a period of total darkness during winter. In contrast, daylength varies little at the equator.

El Niño
El Niño, which affects wind and rainfall patterns, has been blamed for droughts and floods in countries around the

Pacific Rim. El Niño refers to the irregular warming of surface water in the Pacific. The warmer water pumps energy

and moisture into the atmosphere, altering global wind and rainfall patterns. The phenomenon has caused tornadoes

in Florida, smog in Indonesia, and forest fires in Brazil.

El Niño is Spanish for 'the Boy Child' because it comes about the time of the celebration of the birth of the Christ

Child. The cold counterpart to El Niño is known as La Niña, Spanish for 'the girl child', and it also brings with it

weather extremes.

Human influence

The factors above affect the climate naturally. However, we cannot forget the
influence of humans on our climate. Early on in human history our effect on the climate would have been quite
small. However, as populations increased and trees were cut down in large numbers, so our influence on the climate

increased. Trees take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. A reduction in trees will therefore have increased the

amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The Industrial Revolution, starting at the end of the 19th Century, has had a huge effect on climate. The invention of

the motor engine and the increased burning of fossil fuels have increased the amount of carbon dioxide (a

greenhouse gas - more on that later) in the atmosphere.

The Industrial Revolution, starting at the end of the 19th Century, has had a huge effect on climate. The invention of

the motor engine and the increased burning of fossil fuels have increased the amount of carbon dioxide (a

greenhouse gas - more on that later) in the atmosphere. The number of trees being cut down has also

increased, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that is taken up by forests.

Factors affecting to Climate change

There are lots and lots of factors responding to
climate change such as AirPollution, excessive use of
H2O,Deforestation, sewage, undegredable substance like
polythene and so on:-

(1) Air Pollution- There are so many pollution harming our

environment due to silly mistaken done by us. For detail
smoke produce by factories, industries, burning of
polythene led harmful gases that harms our environment
directly or indirectly. - Direct is the time when harmful
gases produce from such condition enters our body and
effects it directly and indirectly is the time when the
harmful gases deposits in the ozone layer causing the
depletion to it called global warming. This global warming
is one of the major problem in our current situation
because its causing one of the dangerous diseases i.e
skin cancer.
(2) Deforestation- The major gas that needed by human
being is 02 which is mainly produce by trees and plants.
But nowadays we know there are lots of deforestation
going on which can lead to big issue like decreasing in o2
percentage and increasing in co2. Due to this our world is
facing a big problem which is also a greatfactor to
climate change.

(3) Sewage- Industries, factories produces lots of an

energy producing side products like sewage.
Sewage actually means asolution or suspension flown
away from factories. It contains some of the harmful
bacteria and chemicals that can infect human beings,
animals and environment too.

These all are the human activities responsing in the future.

But there are also some other factors affecting to
climate change naturally like: -
(1) Currents of ocean, sea.
(2) Distance from the sea or ocean.
(3) Winds.
(4) Proximity to the equator.