I have never really understood the finer points of the world’s climate. Living in Chicago has exposed me to an extreme climate I never knew existed. In the summer it gets hot 95F (35C), in the winter it gets cold -10F (-24C).

What is our climate system?

Climate is the average weather usually taken over a 30-year time period for a particular region and time period. Climate is not the same as weather, but rather, it is the average pattern of weather for a particular region. Weather describes the short-term state of the atmosphere.

Atmosphere: The atmosphere covers the Earth. It is a thin layer of mixed gases which make up the air we breathe. This thin layer also helps the Earth from becoming too hot or too cold. 

Oceans: Oceans cover about 70 percent of Earth’s surface. Their large size and thermal properties allow them to store a lot of heat.

Land: Land covers 27 percent of Earth’s surface and land topography influences weather patterns. 

Ice:  Ice is the world’s largest supply of freshwater. It covers the remaining 3 percent of Earth’s surface including most of Antarctica and Greenland. Ice plays an important role in regulating climate, because it is highly reflective.

Biosphere: The biosphere is the part of Earth’s atmosphere, land, and oceans that supports any living plant, animal, or organism. It is the place where plants and animals, including humans, live.

Yesterday I experienced the USA’s climate system first hand…after flying 3hr 30min from Miami 75F (24C), I landed in Denver and it was 10F (-12C). I then hopped on another plane from Denver to San Fran which took 2hrs 30mins to find a temp of 58F (15C). Tomorrow I fly back to Chicago and it will be 20F (-6C).

….it is very hard to pack when traveling around the USA in winter!

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Weather Map of USA Dec 10 2008

Richard Attenborough

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