How to Understand Weather and Climate
There has been much talk about "weather change" and "climate change" in recent years, and it does not help that, for many people, the two words have become synonymous. But the truth is that they are different, though they are related, and to understand the differences---and effects of---weather and climate is important to our understanding of the environment and humans' place within it.
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Weather or Climate?
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Find out what is meant by "weather." Weather is the immediate manifestation of climatic conditions. In other words, if the conditions are right, it can either rain or snow, be bright and sunny or gloomy and overcast, or tornadoes and hurricanes can form. Weather is what is happening outside your door.
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Understand how weather is predicted. Weather changes constantly and can be measured by a number of devices. For example, a barometer measures the pressure of the atmosphere and can predict whether a storm is moving in or if the weather will remain unchanged. Similarly, radar can be applied to scan clouds for the density of water vapor, formation of tornadoes and the activity of lightning.
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Learn about meteorology, which is the science of predicting the weather. Although it is very accurate, it is not always correct; that is why there is a percentage (%) chance of rain or snow in a forecast, as well as why the weatherman (or woman) often seems to be wrong. This is because there are many variables to consider that cause weather to constantly fluctuate, and thus, it is almost impossible to predict perfectly.
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Understand climate, which provides the basis for the conditions that create weather and affects the entire globe. Climate can also describe the general weather conditions of a specific place over a long period of time. For instance, Arizona is said to have a dry climate because of its historical lack of precipitation and low humidity. Similarly, the global climate can change by several degrees, forming new ice ages or allowing a longer growing season.
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Find out how they are connected. Climate essentially sets the stage for weather. For instance, the "climate" of Florida tends to be warm and humid. It is extremely unlikely that Florida will ever have snow, but it is very likely that it will have heavy rains or even hurricanes. Global climate affects the movement of air, the overall temperature of the planet and the movement of clouds that bring (or change) the weather. Changes in the global climate of a few degrees can alter the weather dramatically.
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