{"id":7296,"date":"2023-10-24T21:04:25","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T21:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/course.fossdle.org\/baccc\/?page_id=7296"},"modified":"2023-10-24T21:04:25","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T21:04:25","slug":"climate-system-change-part-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/course.fossdle.org\/baccc\/modules\/module-1-the-science-of-climate-change\/climate-system-change-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate System Change – Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Climate Science Milestones Two Centuries<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

This lesson first briefly introduces you to climate and weather concepts, which are key to understanding climate change. This is to ensure that everybody is on the same foundation at the start of this course. It involves a description of the concepts of weather and climate by clearly defining and differentiating between them and other key terms, such as variability, climate system and climate change.\n<\/p>\n

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Lesson Outcomes<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:\n<\/p>\n

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  • identify the difference between weather and climate;\n<\/li>\n
  • describe Earth\u2019s climatic system and its components;\n<\/li>\n
  • distinguish the factors governing natural climate variability from human-caused climate change; and\n<\/li>\n
  • explain why humanity should be concerned and care about climate change\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    Terminology<\/span><\/h2>\n

    The following terms are important in understanding the science behind climate change. If you want to remember them, write their meanings in your learning journal as you encounter them in the course content.\n<\/p>\n

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    • albedo\n<\/li>\n
    • atmosphere\n<\/li>\n
    • biosphere\n<\/li>\n
    • climate\n<\/li>\n
    • climate change\n<\/li>\n
    • climate system\n<\/li>\n
    • climate variability\n<\/li>\n
    • climatologist\n<\/li>\n
    • cryosphere\n<\/li>\n
    • global warming\n<\/li>\n
    • hydrosphere\n<\/li>\n
    • latitude\n<\/li>\n
    • lithosphere\n<\/li>\n
    • precipitation\n<\/li>\n
    • solar radiation\n<\/li>\n
    • weather\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      The difference between weather and climate<\/span><\/h2>\n

      For many of you, the difference between weather and climate has already been covered in your earlier years at school. As a quick reminder, do the first learning activity.\n<\/p>\n

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      Go outside to observe and experience the weather and climate where you live. Do you think it will remain the same throughout the day? How has the weather been in the past week? Do you expect it to remain the same throughout the year?\n<\/p>\n

      In your learning journal, briefly describe the weather today. Then record which part of what you see and feel is due to today\u2019s weather and which part is due to your region\u2019s climate. (You can also record which part you think might be due to climate change, if any.) For feedback, discuss your thoughts with your family or a friend.\n<\/p>\n

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      \nWhat is weather?<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

      Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and over a short period of time. It is often described in terms of elements such as temperature, precipitation, sunshine, cloud type and coverage, the speed and direction of the wind, humidity and air pressure. Weather is a complicated phenomenon because it can change at any time.\n<\/p>\n

      To describe the weather, we use words like hot, warm, mild, cold and freezing for temperature, and for precipitation, we use words such as rainy, hailing, snowing, drizzling or raining cats and dogs. Other important words to describe the weather are humid, windy, cloudy, clear, partly cloudy skies and sunny.\n<\/p>\n

      What is climate?<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

      Climate, on the other hand, refers to the average weather conditions for a particular place over a long period of time \u2013 30 years or longer, to be more precise. We can, therefore, say that the timescale for the climate is over a 30-year period.\n<\/p>\n

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      Watch the short video below to reinforce the difference between weather and climate.
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      Climate Change 101<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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      This video explains the difference between weather and climate.\n<\/p>\n

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