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ClimatologyClimatology is the science of climate, or the study of long-term atmospheric conditions across Earth. Unlike meteorology, which uses data to predict weather over several days, climate science focuses on identifying patterns across 55 essential climate variables over periods of 30 years or more. These patterns help climatologists better understand the interactions between Earth's systems and refine computational models to predict future phenomena. Climate variable data, including temperature via the thermometer and air pressure via the barometer, have been directly collected and recorded since the 1600s. Data from before this instrumentation was invented can be obtained by analyzing climate proxies—materials that preserve past climate conditions. These include tree rings, ice cores, sediment cores, and speloothems—stalagmites, stalactites, and other rock formations. This data is used to test the accuracy of climate models—created by applying the laws of physics to Earth's systems—before they are run on supercomputers to project future conditions. These projections can incorporate human activities and forecast their impacts, including those related to climate change, to inform policy decisions.Explore Climatology

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Explore a series of interdisciplinary explainers on climate scienceFrom animations on the quantum mechanics of greenhouse gases to a photo essay on how scientists acquire climate data, this collection provides detailed explorations of how different branches of science have contributed to our understanding of climatology. Quanta Magazine The Köppen-Geiger system divides Earth’s climate into five main categoriesThis classification system, developed by a German-Russian botanist and a German climatologist, results from differences in the intensity of solar radiation and rainfall in different parts of the world. Each category is further divided into multiple coded zones. Geodiode Climatologists use past data and advanced models to forecast future climate trendsUnlike meteorology, which focuses on weather forecasting over several days, climatology identifies trends in data over periods of 30 or more years. This data can go back millions of years and help refine models to forecast centuries into the future. Environment and Climate Change Canada

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