Klimaelemte

Klimaelemte is a term used in climate science to describe the fundamental components that characterize a climate system. The term encompasses both observed variables and derived metrics that quantify climate state and its variability across time and space. In practice, Klimaelemte are the building blocks used in climate data analysis, modeling, and reporting.

Common elements include air temperature, precipitation (rain, snow), humidity, wind, and solar radiation, as well as atmospheric pressure. Additional factors such as cloud cover, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, snow and ice cover, and aerosol concentration are frequently included depending on the study.

Measurement relies on a mix of ground stations, weather balloons, buoys, radar, and satellite remote sensing, along with reanalysis products that combine observations with models. Data quality control and homogenization are important to ensure comparability over time.

In climate modelling, Klimaelemte serve as variables in equations that describe energy and mass exchange in the atmosphere, oceans, and land surface. They are used to construct climate indicators, evaluate model performance, and support decision making in adaptation and risk management.

Because climate exhibits regional diversity and multi-decadal variability, the set and emphasis of Klimaelemte can vary by region and purpose. The term is most often used in multilingual or regional contexts to describe the core suite of variables that define climate analyses. Related topics include climate variables, climate indicators, and data homogenization.