Understanding Climate Part 1: Orbital Variations and the Sun

With the scale of ecology now understood, we can start to look at one of the most important concepts in ecology, climate. What is climate? How does it differ from weather? How does climate change over time and why? Let's do a deep dive now!

Script by Ulyana Horodyskyj

Check out "Is This Wi-Fi Organic?", my book on disarming pseudoscience!

[CordobesErrante]

Flat Earthers are going to love this video xD

[Simon-fgiz]

Just a heads up - the elliptical orbit at 2:20 is fundamentally wrong. The aphelion and perihelion are opposite to each other (180°), not at 90°, because the sun is not in the center, but at the *focus* of the ellipse (as per 1st Kepler's law). This is a significant difference, as it gives wrong predictions. The earth is closest to the sun once, not twice per year - currently during winter in northern hemisphere. As orbital speed is faster at closer distances (second Kepler's law), the cold two seasons in the northern hemisphere are shorter if you count the days on the calendar.

[clemensbock]

Dear Dave,
I really love your content. I am going to start studying biochemistry in Oktober, and I often watch your educational videos and your videos debunking pseudoscience. Can i get a comment heart?

[TundeEszlari]

I love your contents, can I get a comment heart?

[apedanticpeasant]

Brilliant as always. Thank you for your service.

[glennpearson]

Fantastic video, Professor Dave! Now, when we hear climate change deniers claim that we can't discern human impacts on climates versus natural changes, all we have to do is point them to this video. I've tried explaining it to others, but I struggle to make the argument as plainly and simply as you have here. Thanks!

[erregete]

Because of your tutorials, I’m able to get into my ADHD-fueled, obsessive rabbit holes about cool space facts. Thank you, Professor Dave.

Real random question: I love looking at pictures of nebulae taken with MIRI/NIR/Ultraviolet cameras to see each detail (unseen stars in the background unobscured by dust, particles, etc). Out of curiosity, What would those nebulae look like from a naked eye POV if hypothetically we were in a spacecraft close to those nebulae? Would we see a lot of dust surrounding those nebulae and light from forming stars lighting up the dust in their centers? I apologize if this question is confusing but I’ve always wondered.

[KoRntech]

Oh my 1:08 I never thought id be the one to find an error of Professor Dave's videos. Its National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. I even double checked before commenting because maybe i misremembered because it happens.

[thomasbellerive]

This is another video series I'll be watching all the way through, thank you Dave.

[fhzgrdt]

I'd like to have a comment heart too!

[richardb]

Thank you once again, Professor Dave, for making a complicated subject, very palatable and understandable

[TheKirapwner]

Love the concise, informative presentation. Looking forward to part 2, very interesting!

[kwokhardy]

It's amazing how complex Earth's climate is. Factors from orbital shift to volcanic eruptions are all connected to influence our world.

[DzIVDzAN]

Milutin Milankovic also made calendar called New Julian calendar (Revised Julian calendar) or Milankovic Calendar which is more precise then Gregorian Calendar.

[striker]

Haven't even watched it yet, but I appreciate this series. For my boomer parents, please incorporate info about anthropogenic climate change and what we have done and need to do in order to right through ship. I use your videos in my classes andove your debates with creationists. Keep up the awesome work.

[handelsimperium]

I always wondered how you cope with the amount of sheer ignorance, insignificance, stupidity and spite found in youtube comments. I just dropped by to let you know that I appreciate your videos as they make me understand finer details of already assimilated broad concepts and theories. Thanks for your effort.

[rickkwitkoski]

Thank you, Prof Dave. Good as always. Informative and to the point.

[secularidiot]

The amount of people in the comment section who've already pointed out the error with NOAA and the aphelion/perihelion reaffirms my trust in this channel. The viewers and commentors aren't mindlessly noddihg their heads; they're actively correcting the creator on what they got wrong. You'd never see this on creationist/flat earth channels.

[Kichacid]

Awesome, very glad you're covering this topic.

[reaperofinnocence]

Thank you so much for making these videos. You have taught me everything high school failed to.