What does climatology study?

Climatology is the scientific study of climate, which encompasses the long-term patterns and trends of temperature, precipitation, humidity, and other atmospheric conditions over extended periods, typically 30 years or more. It focuses on understanding both the average conditions and the variability of climate over time, including factors that influence climate changes, such as natural phenomena and human activities.

The emphasis on climate variability and changes over time distinguishes climatology from meteorology, which is more concerned with short-term weather patterns and phenomena. Climatologists analyze long-term data to identify trends, cycles, and shifts in climate, helping to understand how and why climates change, and forming the basis for predictions about future climate conditions. This comprehensive view of climate ultimately aids in informing policy and strategies for addressing climate-related challenges.

The other options do not capture the essence of climatology. For instance, studying changing patterns of wind is more aligned with meteorology, while current weather conditions deal with immediate atmospheric phenomena, which are also outside the scope of climatological study. Finally, while the impact of weather on human activity is an important subject, it falls more under applied meteorology or the interdisciplinary fields of environmental science and sociology rather than climatology itself.