The weather plays a very important part in the lives of every person on the planet. It dictates the type and thickness of the clothes people wear, the way hair is styled, whether activities are planned for outside or inside. The weather dictates how safe people who live in areas prone to natural disasters feel.

Many meteorologists use average temperatures by month, week, day or even year to take note of past weather patterns and to determine future weather patterns. It is through the use of the data gathered from studying past weather patterns that they are able to predict the severity of hurricane, tornado, and tsunami seasons. These studies are what help produce such books as the Farmer's Almanac, which helps farmers to predict the coming temperatures, soil readiness, and other important factors they need to decide when to plant, harvest, and fertilize.

Scientists use data taken about past temperatures and weather patterns to determine what has happened to the earth's surface and to some of the animals. Some scientists believe that the constant increase in the average temperatures shows good cause to be concerned about the phenomenon commonly referred to as global warming.

Other scientists believe that this increase is a naturally occurring phenomenon that is necessary for the earth's replenishment and survival. Some geologists and anthropologists look to patterns in temperature and weather to help determine what happened to lands, villages and animals long ago. They often point to drastic decreases in temperature to explain such eras as the ice age and drastic increases to explain the melting of the ice age and the extinction of many ancient creatures.

Warming trends and cooling trends over time help meteorologists and other scientists better understand the workings of every part of nature, from the atmosphere all the way down to the underwater volcanoes. The average temperatures by month are a part of those trends closely watched by many scientists.