Climatology
Topic: Geography as a Discipline: Nature, Branches and Approaches · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 1 "Geography as a Discipline"
Meaning
Climatology is a branch of physical geography. It studies the structure of the atmosphere (its layers) and the elements of weather and climate: temperature, pressure, wind and rainfall. It also sorts the world into climatic types and regions. Weather is the state of the air on one day. Climate is the average pattern over many years. Climatology matters because climate shapes houses, clothing, food, crops and livestock farming.
Example
India's monsoon climate is studied in climatology. Moist south-west winds bring heavy rain to Mawsynram and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. The Thar Desert in Rajasthan stays dry. The monsoon also sets the rhythm of farming across the country.
Don't confuse with
- Meteorology: meteorology is the science of day-to-day weather and the atmosphere. Climatology is its paired branch in geography, and it studies long-term patterns and climatic regions.