Weather vs Climate: Key Concepts and Differences

The video tutorial explains the difference between weather and climate, highlighting that weather refers to atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place, while climate is the average weather over a long period. It describes various climate zones, including polar, temperate, and tropical climates, and their characteristics. The tutorial includes interactive activities for students to differentiate between weather and climate and identify climate zones on a map. It concludes with a task to find images of places with varying rainfall averages compared to Los Angeles.

What is the main difference between weather and climate?

• Weather is always predictable, while climate is not.

• Weather is the average condition over a long period, while climate is the condition at a specific time.

• Weather includes temperature and precipitation, while climate includes only temperature.

• Weather is the condition at a specific time and place, while climate is the average condition over a long period.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of weather?

• Can change within hours

• Associated with wind and humidity

• Predictable over long periods

• Changes frequently

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

What does climate typically include?

• Short-term atmospheric conditions

• Average weather patterns over years

• Daily temperature changes

• Hourly precipitation levels

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which climate zone is characterized by cold and dry conditions with temperatures never above 50 degrees?

• Polar climate

• Tropical climate

• Temperate climate

• Arid climate

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What is a characteristic of a temperate climate?

• Hot and dry all year

• Warm, wet summers and cold, wet winters

• Cold and dry all year

• Hot, wet summers and mild winters

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which climate zone receives no more than 12 inches of rain each year?

• Arid

• Polar

• Temperate

• Tropical wet

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following is true about tropical wet regions?

• They experience significant seasonal changes.

• They have cold nights and hot days.

• They are also known as rainforests.

• They have unpredictable weather.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What activity involves deciding if a statement represents weather or climate?

• Reading a textbook

• Playing a game

• Watching a video

• Filling out a Venn diagram

What should students do with pictures of places that are more or less rainy on average than LA?

• Create a collage

• Write a report

• Draw a map

• Make a presentation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What additional activity can students do if they finish early?

• Read a book

• Watch videos about famous female scientists

• Write an essay

• Take a nap