Responding to Climate Change

          The earth we live in is only one of the millions of objects found in space. Why are there changes on the earth's surface? Why does the earth experience different kinds of weather? What is weather and climate?
          Climate is the weather conditions of country or region. And weather is the condition of the atmosphere over a short period of time. The weather may be fine, fair or stormy. The weather changes from day to day or at different times during the day. This is because certain elements in nature are constantly changing. Changes in the weather happen because of changes in air temperature, air pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction, and precipitation. In the Philippines, precipitaton is usually in the form of rain. Sometimes we experience strong winds, heavy rains, thunder and lightning, and tornadoes. During the rapid rise of air, electric charges build up in the clouds. Some places in the clouds have positive electical charge while others have a negative charge. When the current flows between regions of opposite electrical charges, lightning occurs. Bolts of lightning may leap from cloud to cloud and from clouds to the earth. This weather disturbance accompanied by strong winds, lightning and thunder is called thunderstroms. Tornadoes that occurs in the Philippines are characterize as weak. But whenever one occurs, it can cause much damage. A tropical cyclone is a major weather disturbance characterize by a low central atmospheric pressure. The center called eye is surrounded by bands of clouds and winds which blow in a counterclockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere. A typhoon is a strong tropical cyclone. Associated with typhoons are such hazards as floods, landslides and storm surge. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is the agency that monitors weather conditions. PAGASA provides the nation with weather forecasts and typhoon warnings which are necessary so that people can take the necessary precautions.
          Typhoon warnings help people prepare in order to be safe from any disastrous effects they may bring. Remember, typhoons always visit our country. We should always be prepared for them. We should follow the precautionary measures about typhoons to lessen their destructive effects.