What are climate resources and their characteristics?

Strictly speaking, climate resources refer to climatic conditions that are beneficial to human production and living activities; unfavorable climatic conditions often cause climate disasters. Therefore, climate conditions, or climate environment, should include two main aspects: climate resources and climate disasters. Now, some people equate climate resources with climate conditions, include climate disasters in climate resources, and regard disasters as negative resources. Of course, climate resources and climate disasters are two contradictory aspects. They both restrict and transform each other. Therefore, it still makes sense to have such a broad understanding of climate resources.

What are the characteristics of climate resources? Climate resources are a very special resource. It is different from other resources, mainly in the following points:

(1) Climate is an organic combination of light, temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind and other elements. The amount of its resources not only depends on the value of each factor and their cooperation with each other, but also depends on different service objects and cooperation with other natural conditions. Unlike mineral resources such as gold and coal, the more the better. For example, for crops, the temperature within a certain range is a resource. If it is too high, it may cause heat damage, and if it is too low, it may cause cold damage or freezing damage. Precipitation is a resource within a certain range. If it is too high, it may cause waterlogging. Too little can cause drought. Although light and heat resources are abundant in arid areas, water shortages limit the full utilization of light and heat resources and greatly reduce their value. For another example, rainy weather may be beneficial to the growth of some crops, but it may cause inconvenience or even harm to tourism and the salt industry; snow cover is beneficial to protect some crops from surviving the winter safely, but it may be harmful to tourism and the salt industry. It is difficult for cattle and sheep to eat grass, and it may be harmful.

(2) The climate changes over time. Some of these changes are cyclical; some have no obvious periodicity and the law of change is elusive. For example, the diurnal and seasonal changes in temperature mostly occur every day and every year, over and over again. But the weather on a certain day or in a certain season is not the same every year. As for climate changes over a certain period of time or over many years, although there is a certain range, the changes are relatively complex and difficult to predict accurately. Therefore, the utilization of climate resources must be tailored to current conditions. The oldest agricultural book in China, "The Book of Pansheng", says at the beginning: "The foundation of farming lies in the right time." "Mencius" also said: "If the farming time is not violated, the grain cannot be eaten." This all shows that planting is the key to cultivation. Crops need to be harvested at the right time. If you miss the opportunity, resources are fleeting and wasted.

(3) There are regional differences in climate. On the one hand, every place in the world has its own unique climate, which cannot be exactly the same as the climate in other places. Therefore, the utilization of climate resources must also be tailored to local conditions. "The Book of Pan Sheng" says that "there is no fixed date for planting millet, because the time is due to the place", which means that there is no fixed date for planting millet, and the time depends on the place; on the other hand, there are some places in the world, although they are far apart from each other, the climate is Not exactly the same, but similar. Therefore, crops can be introduced, livestock can be introduced, and experiences in utilizing climate resources can be exchanged with each other.

(4) Climate resources are a renewable resource. Climate resources are not like gold, coal and other mineral resources. The more they are mined, the less they will be, and eventually they will be exhausted. In the final analysis, climate resources come from solar radiation. If used rationally and protected properly, they will live as long as the sun and can be used repeatedly and permanently.

(5) Climate can be affected by human power. This influence can be divided into conscious and unconscious. Since climatic conditions are closely related to other natural conditions, humans often change climatic conditions consciously or unconsciously in their production and living activities and in the process of transforming nature. For example, planting grass and trees, storing water for irrigation, etc. can make the climate better; while destroying forests and grass, draining lakes and swamps, etc. can make the climate worse. Urbanization and industrialization pollute the atmosphere, increase the acidity of precipitation, and raise temperatures, which may lead to long-term, large-scale changes in the climate that have a huge impact on human survival. Human beings consciously improve the climate, but currently they are mostly limited to small areas. For example, build protective forests, set up wind barriers, build drainage and irrigation facilities, glass greenhouses, plastic sheds, etc. With the development of society and the advancement of science and technology, human beings' ability to modify the climate will be increasingly improved, the scope of modification will be expanded, and the aspects that can be modified will also increase. Some unfavorable climatic conditions can even be transformed into favorable ones. The climate conditions transform certain climate disasters into climate resources.