Climate_Approaching_02

Climate describes conditions in the atmosphere (hot/cold or wet/dry). However, it does not tell us why it occurs. To answer this question, scientists must learn about many aspects of the atmosphere. They need to learn about the chemistry that happens in the atmosphere. They need to know about the influence of the ocean, land, and Sun. All of these are factors that influence the climate of an area. Scientists must understand every aspect that may affect the atmosphere. To do so, a lot of data needs to be collected.

Monitoring and Measuring

Believe it or not, you are like a scientist. You too monitor the climate. How else can you tell what to wear before you go outside? If it’s Florida in the summer, you know you won’t need to wear a heavy coat. You will need a heavy coat in Canada during the winter months. Just like a scientist, you know more about climate than you think. The difference is that a scientist may use special tools to make very accurate observations. They may also analyze data from all over Earth. You will just monitor climate near your home. Either way, they choose the clothes they wear the same way you do.

Climate, the Atmosphere, and Land

How do scientists collect data all over Earth’s surface and even above it? To do so, they need a lot of help. They also have a lot of equipment. Some of this equipment do not even need a human to help collect the data. For example, there are weather stations in very remote areas. They collect and send back data without the need for human assistance. To collect data high in the atmosphere, balloons are used. These balloons collect many types of data. They can collect information about the chemistry of the atmosphere. For example, they collect data about the amounts of carbon dioxide and methane. Weather balloons also collect data about temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, and winds.

Satellites are also used to collect data. They orbit high above the Earth. These satellites give scientists a bird’s eye view. They allow scientists to monitor things such as glacier melting rates, winds, temperature, and clouds.