The Earth’s climate system is very complex. It is affected not only by what happens in the atmosphere (gaseous area surrounding Earth), but also in the oceans, the cryosphere (glaciers and ice caps), the geosphere (land areas), and the biosphere (area with living organisms).

NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas. MS-ESS2.D – Weather and Climate. Weather and climate are influenced by interactions involving sunlight, the ocean, the atmosphere, ice, landforms, and living things. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and local and regional geography, all of which can affect oceanic and atmospheric flow patterns.

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