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Climate variability: Climate changes (to mean states for example) that occur on time and spatial scales beyond those of individual weather events. Some of this variability is “forced” from outside the climate system itself—by things like anthropogenic greenhouse gases or solar variability. Other variability, such as oscillations in atmospheric-oceanic circulation, is internal to the climate system.

Adaptation to climate variability: Changes in land use or climate can pose threats as well as opportunities to people and ecosystems. The quality of life and habitats will reflect the resiliency of people and ecosystems to negative changes, and their ability to take advantage of arising opportunities. For people, this includes having resources and skills (e.g., to plan for the future despite uncertainties) to cope with change.

Climate models: Mathematical representations of the Earth’s climate system and components and their processes and interactions. They are used as a research tool to study and simulate natural climate variability, and project the climate response to human activities (i.e. human induced forcing). They are also used operationally for monthly, seasonal and multi-year climate predictions. Climate models of varying complexity depict climate system components singly and in combination.