Studying climatic variations has been going on for centuries, yet it is only in the 20th century when the science about climate patterns appeared. Nowadays, people know more about reasons behind weather phenomena and climate patterns. Nevertheless, there is always a place for improvements. In this article, we are going to review several climate patterns and tell you why you should know more about them.
Understanding Climate Patterns
First of all, what are climate patterns? The concept refers to predictable changes of weather in a specific location or region. These phenomena can be caused by different factors such as Earth’s rotation, solar radiation, or movement of atmosphere. The knowledge about climate patterns is essential to predict and prepare for various events like hurricanes, droughts, or heat waves. Studying climate patterns allows identifying the places where a certain event could take place and to take necessary measures before it occurs.
As an example, it is worth mentioning the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The phenomenon means the natural variation in surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean. This leads to the weakening of the trade winds which makes warm water move closer to the Americas. As a result, some parts of the world can experience floods and hurricanes while other will be affected by droughts or heat waves. On the contrary, La Niña is marked by the strengthening of trade winds causing the cooling of the Pacific and increased rains in the Americas.
Atmospheric Circulations and Climate Patterns
Climate patterns can be influenced by atmospheric circulations. One of them is the Hadley cell – the circulation pattern appearing in the tropics. It is created as a result of uneven surface heating and different winds speeds and directions. The phenomenon leads to creation of both high- and low-pressure systems. Besides, depending on the type, low-pressure systems have rising air and clouds while high-pressure ones are characterized by sinking air and clear sky.
Another example of atmospheric circulation is the Polar Front Jet Stream which happens near the polar front, the border between cold and warm air masses. The phenomenon impacts storms’ trajectory and high-pressure systems. Sometimes, the Polar Front Jet Stream may develop a wave structure causing the frequency and intensity of weather phenomena to grow.
Ocean Currents’ Influence on Climate Patterns
Ocean currents play a significant role in creation of climate patterns too. For example, the Gulf Stream is the major ocean current that impacts Western Europe. The reason for this is that the ocean current transfers warm water from the Gulf of Mexico and makes winters warmer and rainfall more frequent. However, the Kuroshio Current cools down Japan because of the cold water it brings.
When it comes to interaction between atmosphere and the ocean, ocean currents can influence weather fronts that mark the borders between various air masses. Warm fronts are characterized by rising air and clouds while cold fronts – by sinking air and clouds. Weather fronts might lead to the development of storms.
Impact of Climate Patterns on Weather Occurrences
Besides influencing agriculture, climate patterns can affect weather too. Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones happen mostly in the warm ocean and obtain their strength there. Once the weather phenomenon reaches the lands, it starts losing its power because of the lack of energy. The influence of the climate pattern called the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) on hurricanes is quite possible.
Impact of Climate Patterns on Agriculture and Food Security
Finally, climate patterns can adversely impact agriculture and food security. For example, changes in precipitation or temperature lead to low crop production that may even result in farmers’ losses. While droughts are happening in certain places, there are floods elsewhere. Such climate patterns influence the quality of crops and can make them low-yielding.
One of such cases took place in Africa’s Sahel region characterized by droughts.
Conclusions
In conclusion, climate patterns can be reviewed and analyzed. Studying climate patterns is useful for predicting and preventing the adverse effects of climatic changes. It can help to identify the places where some weather phenomena might occur.
In order to learn more about climate patterns and analyze them, we suggest looking at the databases of credible organizations dedicated to these problems. You can find the needed information on the websites of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
