What term refers to the long-term changes in the statistical properties of the climate system?

The term that describes long-term changes in the statistical properties of the climate system is "climate change." This includes alterations in temperature, precipitation patterns, wind patterns, and other climate-related factors over extended periods. Climate change can result from both natural variations in the Earth’s climate system and human-induced factors, such as the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Understanding climate change specifically focuses on the shifts in patterns that occur over decades or longer, distinguishing it from short-term or temporary variations in weather conditions. Other terms, like demographic shifts or seasonal adjustments, do not pertain to the atmospheric and oceanic changes that define climate. Environmental variation might refer to changes in ecosystems or environments but does not specifically capture the long-term shifts in climate-related statistics.