Earth and Space Science / Unit 8: Climate
8.1 Weather vs. Climate
Notes
Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a place and time (hours to days). Climate is the average weather over a long period, usually 30 years or more.
- Climate includes averages and extremes of temperature, precipitation and wind.
- A cold week in one city does not disprove global warming, because it is weather.
- Example: a station with annual rainfall totals of 780, 820 and 800 mm over three years averages 800 mm per year.
Practice
Which statement describes climate?
Climate is long-term average conditions.
A cold snap in January in one city is:
Single events are weather.
Climate is usually averaged over at least:
30 years is the standard period.
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