What is the Difference Between Weather and Climate?

Climate Climate is weather information that describes the weather for a specified length of time (usually 30 years) and will include information about  weather extremes.

* Some of the same characteristics of weather are used to describe climate. * Climatologists depend on large amounts of data collected over a long period of time to determine if the current weather patterns are usual. .

What is the key factor in determining the difference between weather and climate? Instruct students to discuss this question in shoulder partners and volunteer answers. Key ideas should include the time differences for each.

Scientists study climate to look for patterns or cycles of patterns. *Changes in wind patterns *Ocean surface temperatures *Precipitation over the equatorial region of the Pacific http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stormclouds.jpg

Scientists study climate to understand how cycles and patterns may fit into the bigger picture of long-term or more permanent climate changes. Climate change is described in terms of years, decades, or even centuries.

Global Climate Worldwide averages are commonly used to describe global climate. Global climate can change, but it does not occur easily or quickly. Regional averages may vary without impacting global change.

Examples of Change For example: If the climate of Africa becomes warmer and the climate of Brazil becomes cooler, the global average may not change. The cooling of one area may offset the warming of another. However, if Africa keeps warming more and it’s not balanced by other areas that cool down, then the global climate may warm. It appears that a warming trend has been the case over the past century.

Weather Weather is the information that describes the conditions in the atmosphere at a particular time and place, including temperature, wind, cloud cover, precipitation, and humidity.

Weather depends on four main factors: Winds Moisture Energy Air pressure Any change in these four factors will affect the type of weather an area will experience.

Weather data is shown on weather maps using symbols. Weather measurements have been recorded for about 200 years.