Climate

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases released by an individual, organisation, event, or product. Measuring and reducing carbon footprints is a key part of tackling climate change.

Global warming is the long-term rise in Earth's average temperature caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. It is causing melting ice, rising sea levels, and more extreme weather events worldwide.

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that keeps Earth warm enough to support life. Human activities have enhanced it by releasing extra greenhouse gases, trapping more heat and causing global warming.

Desert climates are defined by very low rainfall (less than 250 mm per year). Hot deserts like the Sahara have extreme heat by day and cold nights, while cold deserts like the Gobi Experience freezing winters. Both are shaped by their extreme aridity.

The monsoon is a seasonal reversal of winds that brings intense rainfall to South and South-East Asia during summer months. Hundreds of millions of people depend on monsoon rains for agriculture, water supply, and daily life.

Polar climates are found at and around the North and South Poles. They are characterised by extremely cold temperatures throughout the year, very low precipitation, and months of continuous daylight or darkness.

Temperate climates lie between the tropics and the polar regions and have four distinct seasons with moderate temperatures and rainfall throughout the year. Much of Europe, North America, and New Zealand has a temperate climate.

The tropical climate zone lies near the equator and is characterised by high temperatures throughout the year and abundant rainfall. It supports the world's most biodiverse ecosystems, including tropical rainforests.

Study of climate systems, weather patterns, and climate zones shaping Earth's geography.

Clouds are made of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere. Meteorologists classify clouds by their height and shape — different types give clues about upcoming weather.

Precipitation is any form of water that falls from clouds to the Earth's surface. The type of precipitation — rain, snow, sleet, hail, or drizzle — depends on temperature in the cloud and at the surface. Different cloud types produce different precipitation.

The four seasons occur because Earth orbits the Sun tilted at 23.5° on its axis. This tilt means different hemispheres receive more direct sunlight at different times of year, causing temperature and daylight hours to change seasonally.

The water cycle (also called the hydrological cycle) describes the continuous movement of water between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and living things. It is driven by solar energy and gravity and provides the fresh water that all life depends on.

Wind is the horizontal movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. It is driven by differences in air temperature and pressure and is shaped by the rotation of the Earth (Coriolis effect).