How do weather and climate differ?

How do weather and climate differ?

• A. Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is the long-term average of those conditions.
• B. Weather is the long-term average; climate is day-to-day.
• C. Weather and climate are the same.
• D. Weather only refers to storms.

Answer: (A)

Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions, like today’s temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind. Climate, on the other hand, is the long-term pattern of those conditions in a region, typically summarized by averages and typical ranges over many years (usually about 30-year periods). So weather tells you what it’s like right now or in the near future, while climate tells you what’s typical for a place over the long run. A single rainy day is weather; the usual amount of rain a region receives across decades describes its climate. The idea that climate is an average over many years and weather is day-to-day best captures the difference.

Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions, like today’s temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind. Climate, on the other hand, is the long-term pattern of those conditions in a region, typically summarized by averages and typical ranges over many years (usually about 30-year periods). So weather tells you what it’s like right now or in the near future, while climate tells you what’s typical for a place over the long run. A single rainy day is weather; the usual amount of rain a region receives across decades describes its climate. The idea that climate is an average over many years and weather is day-to-day best captures the difference.