Final answer:
To study current climate conditions, individuals use the science of climatology. They analyze long-term weather patterns using a combination of direct and indirect data, including measures of greenhouse gas levels and historical evidence of climatic conditions. Such study allows detection and prediction of potentially severe impacts from climate change over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
To study current climate conditions, one would delve into the field of Climatology, a branch of atmospheric science. The role of a climatologist is to analyze weather conditions averaged over an extended period of time, using atmospheric data. They study patterns and effects that occur over decades, centuries, and millennia, unlike meteorologists who study shorter time frames of hours, days, and weeks.
Data used to study climate conditions includes both direct measurements such as present greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere and indirect information. Methods for gathering indirect data can include analyzing the dimensions and locations of glaciers, water levels in lakes, rivers, and oceans, and studying the annual rings in trees for climactic changes over the years.
Climate refers to the long-term effects of the atmosphere that persist for decades and centuries. Detecting climate changes can often be challenging over brief time periods, but the accumulated effects can be substantial. Notably, these can lead to significant changes in temperature and rainfall, both of which modern farming is incredibly sensitive to, but also potentially devastating impacts such as melting glaciers and sea-level rise.
Learn more about Climatology