What is the difference between weather and climate?

What is the difference between weather and climate?

• A. Weather is the long-term average conditions; climate is short-term conditions.
• B. Weather is the conditions now; climate describes past centuries.
• C. Weather refers to the conditions in a region over many years; climate refers to the conditions right now.
• D. Weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is the long-term average conditions in a region.

Answer: (D)

Weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions in a place, like today’s temperature, precipitation, and wind. Climate is the long-term pattern of those conditions in a region, described by averages over many years (typically about 30). So weather can change from hour to hour, while climate represents the typical conditions you'd expect over a long period. For example, a sunny day at 70 degrees shows weather; a region’s climate is described by its overall pattern of hot summers and cold winters. The statement that weather is the short-term conditions and climate is the long-term average in a region best captures this difference.

Weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions in a place, like today’s temperature, precipitation, and wind. Climate is the long-term pattern of those conditions in a region, described by averages over many years (typically about 30). So weather can change from hour to hour, while climate represents the typical conditions you'd expect over a long period. For example, a sunny day at 70 degrees shows weather; a region’s climate is described by its overall pattern of hot summers and cold winters. The statement that weather is the short-term conditions and climate is the long-term average in a region best captures this difference.