Earth Science: Atmosphere – Climate of the Temperate Zone The temperate zone covers the Northern and Southern Hemispheres between 45° latitude and the polar circle at 66.5° latitude. It can be divided into a cool and a cold temperate zone. The temperate zone mainly depends on the westerly winds outside the tropics which bring a … Read more
Earth Science: Subtropical Climates Subtropical areas can be found in a belt between the tropics and 45° north or south latitude. These areas are the climatic transition between tropical and temperate latitudes. The Mediterranean climate is a specific climate type located within the subtropical zone. The subtropics are defined as a climatic zone with high … Read more
Earth Science: Atmosphere – Tropical Climates The tropics are known as humid, muggy areas with evergreen rain forests rich in animal and plant species. But tropical habitats can also include the grasslands of the savannas and even dry deserts. The term “tropics” comes from the Greek tropos, which means “to turn.” It describes the climate … Read more
Earth Science: The Climate System – Natural Climate Phenomena Historically, the Earth’s climate has gone through natural cycles. These can be detected in climate data of past millennia, recorded in mineral deposits and core samples of polar ice. Fueled by the sun’s energy, wind and ocean currents continually churn the Earth’s troposphere and hydrosphere, affecting … Read more
Earth Science: THE CLIMATE SYSTEM Earth is home to a number of different climate zones, influenced by various factors. A commonly used system of categorization identifies zones based on their average temperatures, dividing the world into polar, temperate, subtropical, and tropical zones. Discovery The Earth – The Global Climate Different climates exist on various parts … Read more
Earth Science: Atmosphere – Wind, Storms, and Anomalies Wind is air in motion originating from air pressure gradients in the atmosphere. It always blows from an area with high air pressure into an area with low air pressure. The greater the difference in air pressure, the stronger the wind. There are several parallel zones on … Read more
Earth Science: Atmosphere – Precipitation and Clouds Cloud formations and patterns have always greatly inspired humans. They are important for the global distribution of water and required for precipitation, which in turn supports life on Earth. The Earth’s water is in constant motion. Water vapor rises into the atmosphere and can travel over large distances. … Read more
Earth Science: Meteorology and Weather Observations People have a great interest in tomorrow’s weather. The oldest written reports about weather phenomena are over 5,000 years old. The weather has been systematically recorded and analyzed for the last 150 years. Nowadays, weather conditions are observed, measured, and recorded around the clock through a global network of … Read more
Earth Science: Atmosphere – Weather All living organisms on this planet are influenced by the weather. Humans rely heavily on accurate forecasts of temperature, air pressure, humidity, and the presence or absence of wind or clouds. Due to the very complex processes happening in the lower part of the atmosphere, it is almost impossible to … Read more
Earth Science: Atmospheric Processes The sun is the driving force for processes in the atmosphere, fending off most of the Earth’s damaging ultraviolet radiation, and permitting only the shortwave radiation of visible light to penetrate to the Earth’s surface. The radiation given off by the sun provides the energy for all meteorological processes and for … Read more
