Ilmastatus

Ilmastatus is a Finnish term used to describe the current state, variability, and trajectory of the Earth’s climate. It refers to the integrated set of climatic conditions that define a given period or region, including temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, extreme events, and the forces acting on the climate system, such as greenhouse gas concentrations and radiative forcing. The concept encompasses both measurements of the present climate and the projections of future changes.

Measurement and indicators: ilmastatus is evaluated using observational data from surface weather stations, satellites, and ocean instruments, complemented by reanalysis products and paleoclimate proxies. Key indicators include global and regional mean temperatures, precipitation patterns, sea-surface temperature, ice masses, sea ice extent, sea level, and ocean heat content, as well as atmospheric concentrations of CO2, CH4, and N2O. Climate models and ensembles are used to interpret past changes and explore future scenarios.

Applications: scientists, policymakers, and communicators refer to ilmastatus when describing progress toward climate goals, assessing climate risk to infrastructure and ecosystems, and conveying climate information to the public. It is often distinguished from climate projections, which describe probable future states under specific scenarios.

Limitations: regional assessments carry substantial uncertainty due to natural variability, model differences, and data gaps; baselines, time periods, and methods for aggregating data can influence the interpretation of ilmastatus.

See also: climate change, climate indicators, IPCC, Copernicus Climate Change Service.