Here are some great resources on the basics of climate. Click the links below to view them:
What is climate anyway? Learn about climate.
This is the most comprehensive FAQ I’ve found. It’s your tax dollars at work, so check it out.
I think this tutorial is only “easy” if you’re already have a basic understanding of the climate system, but give it a try: CO2 in six easy steps
This one is my favorite, but it’s pretty advanced: http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/05/start-here/
Prefer pictures? Try this!
I can’t talk about climate without talking about El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Clearly, I’m not alone in this.
There is now an ENSO blog:
http://www.climate.gov/news-features/department/8443/all
The most comprehensive list of resources on ENSO that I know:
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/nino-home.html
It is unlikely that I would have survived grad school without it.
An excellent overview:
http://www.ucar.edu/communications/factsheets/elnino/
And here’s an interview I did in which I talk about ENSO:
Debra Tillinger 