Overview
Climate studies unite physics, chemistry, ecology, and social science to examine long-term patterns. Weather describes short-term conditions; climate summarizes patterns over decades. Sunlight, reflected energy, greenhouse gases, oceans, ice, and land interact. Human emissions increase heat-trapping gases and alter Earth’s energy balance.
Core ideas
Scientists combine thermometers, satellites, ocean records, and ice cores with models. Attribution tests explanations against evidence; projections depend on emissions scenarios and assumptions. A cold day does not negate a long-term trend.
Try it
Plot monthly temperatures from a public dataset for one location, labeling dates and units. Compare individual months with a multi-year average and note seasonal variation. A single station cannot represent the planet. Describe data gaps and explain what the graph alone cannot establish about causes.
Study pathways
Build algebra, statistics, and Earth science foundations; explore climate modeling, adaptation, or environmental justice. Further reading: MIT OpenCourseWare offers science and engineering resources at https://ocw.mit.edu/.