This paper will take a general perspective on the issue of how climate variation has been documented to impact ecological processes as well as bringing together some of the perspective presented in earlier talks in the session. As part of the presentation, I will discuss why large-scale climate indices work well as climate proxies - this because they provide an entire package of weather. Patterns observed in the Pacific will be compared to patterns seen in other parts of the world, both in marine as well as in other systems, primarily terrestrial. Although the focus will be on biological processes, the talk will end with some reflections on how climate changes might affect humans through their effects on biological productivity in a region.