Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
Spatial Analysis, Cartography and Climate
2.1. Introduction
2.1.1.
Climatological information
Climatological information is recorded in geographic space thanks to the use of
weather stations equipped with different types of sensors, such as thermometers,
rain gauges, anemometers, wind vanes, hyrgrometers, etc. There are two main
reasons that explain why a global weather observation network has been developed:
- first, to provide the necessary information for weather forecasts. Weather
forecasting is carried out by researchers and engineers who use data collected from
all over the world to provide complex digital models. These complex digital models
belong to the world of physics and include branches of physics such as
thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics in particular. Due to these models, it has now
become possible to use sets of differential equations to give an accurate description
of atmospheric conditions and atmospheric activity. This aspect belongs to
meteorology and is not dealt with in this chapter;
- second, to clarify which factors are required for a greater understanding of the
climate, and how the climate functions in respect to both time and space.
Data that are collected from stations are used for climatological studies. Simple
calculations can be used to recreate a continuous series of data that provides
information on temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and direction, etc., on a
daily, monthly or yearly basis. For a number of years now this climatological
information has been closely examined because they provide us with information on
the actual climate change.
Different variations of climate factors are not recognized from space on a
continual basis
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