klíma

Klíma is the long-term pattern of weather in a given place, averaged over decades, typically about 30 years. It describes the usual conditions one can expect during a season or year, rather than day-to-day weather. The term is used in many Central European languages, including Hungarian and Slovak, to refer to the scientific concept of climate. Climate differs from weather by focusing on averages and variability over longer time scales.

The main components of klíma include mean temperatures, seasonal cycles, precipitation (amount, type, and timing), humidity, wind, and the frequency and intensity of extreme events such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods. Climate science uses historical observations, proxy data for longer timescales, and climate models to characterize and project klíma. Observations come from weather stations, satellites, and paleoclimate records, while models simulate past and future climate under different scenarios.

Regional klíma is shaped by factors such as latitude, altitude, proximity to oceans or large lakes, ocean currents, and atmospheric circulation. Large-scale patterns like El Niño–Southern Oscillation and monsoons contribute to year-to-year and regional variability. Climate classifications group regions by typical conditions, helping to explain differences between, for example, temperate, tropical, arid, and polar zones.

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in klíma driven largely by human activities, notably the emission of greenhouse gases. These changes include rising average temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and shifts in snow and ice cover, with wide-ranging impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, public health, and infrastructure. Mitigation seeks to reduce the drivers of climate change, while adaptation aims to increase resilience to its effects through planning, policy, and practical measures at local and national levels.