Climate
From NOAA Climate Services
Climate is the long-term prevailing pattern of temperature, precipitation and other weather variables at a given location, described by statistics, such as means and extremes. The climate includes conditions in the atmosphere and ocean, and is often described in terms of the intensity, frequency, and duration of severe and non-severe weather events. Over Earth's history, indications of climate change have been recorded in fossils and ice core samples. Climate change can result in extended periods of heat and drought at one extreme and extensive glaciation at the other. Current patterns in climate data show that our planet's global surface temperature is rising. This change is linked to the dramatic increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that has occurred over the past two centuries. Understanding climatic processes and the resulting impacts of a changing climate are important as every living organism on Earth is affected.
The collections under this theme are developed to improve Climate Literacy and to provide access to scientific information, which can inform personal decisions about actions that influence climate.
Sources: NOAA Climate Program Office and the NOAA Climate Portal
Carbon Cycle
This Collection provides educational resources to help investigate the carbon cycle and it's interdependent components. Information on how this cycle is relevant to everyday life and how our activities are impacting it is included. Lessons, videos, and background materials cover basic concepts in simple terms while more advanced data interpretation is also available.
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Changing Seasons
This collection provides educational resources that can help students learn about the causes and impacts of the seasons. The majority of the resources are related to environmental changes caused by the annual seasonal cycle. These resources include those that are related to weather, but also impacts on ecosystems and organisms.
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Climate Monitoring
This collection provides educational resources that are focused on the basics of the climate system and methods, tools and data that are used to monitor, measure, and study changes in Earth's climate.
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Climate Change Impacts
This collection includes resources to help educators teach about the impacts (predicted and observed) of climate change. The resources that are provided address global issues such as ocean acidification and sea ice changes, as well as more localized information and activities for specific geographic regions.
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Climate Change Impacts in Eastern U.S.
Climate Change Impacts in Western U.S.