What Are Weather and Climate

Climate and weather are different concepts, though they are related. How are the concepts of weather and climate different? 

• Weather refers to conditions nearer to the ground than climate.
• Climate is related to the amount of sunlight; weather is not.
• Weather conditions include precipitation, but climate does not.
• Climate covers larger areas and longer times than weather. 

The kinds of data that reflect climate are different from the conditions described in the weather data. Which of the following is a description of climate? 

• Today it is hot and sunny in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Summers are usually mild in Lansing, Michigan.
• Last week it rained every day in San Antonio, Texas.
• Yesterday was cold and windy in Anchorage, Alaska. 

Weather data is different than climate data. Which of the following is an example of weather data? 

• The average high temperature in May is 21°C in the Midwest of the United States.
• Central Australia usually receives less than 110 mm of rainfall all year.
• The relative humidity was 24% at noon on July 23 in Tempe, Arizona. 
• On average, there is 88 mm of rain in the Gulf Coast region in July.

Which of the following is a description of weather data? 

• The Sahara desert gets very little rainfall.
• The average daytime high in the Amazon is 25°C.
• Temperatures in the Arctic are usually below freezing. 
• It rained two inches in Miami, Florida on May 5th. 

Which of the following is a description of climate data? 

• New York had a 2 inches of rainfall on Wednesday.
• Lima, Peru had a low temperature last night of 17°C.
• Winds are currently from the south in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• The coast of Antarctica has very short summers. 

Weather is best described as which of the following?

• How fast the wind is blowing
• The amount of water in the air
• How much air is pressing down on a particular area
• The condition of the atmosphere at one particular time and place

What is the difference between weather and climate?

• Weather can be predicted, climate cannot
• Weather can change, climate cannot
• Weather is short-term, climate is long-term
• Weather is long-term, climate is short-term

What is the weather conditions in an area over a long period of time?

• climate
• temperature
• elevation
• precipitation

What climate does a desert have?

• Tropical
• Polar
• Arid/Dry
• Temperate

Winters in Maine can reach temperatures below zero.

• Climate
• Weather