Difference between Weather and Climate

   

Introduction to the Topic

When you step outside, you may see many facets of the environment. Humidity, rain, air temperature and pressure, wind speed and direction, cloud and so on. Is what you are seeing outside the weather or the climate. Weather and climate are two terms that are used to describe the changes in our environment. Furthermore, these two terms are often used interchangeably, but do they really have the same meaning? In this article, we will look into the key difference between weather and climate.

What does Weather mean?

In simple words, weather means a state of the atmosphere. It includes things like heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, and cleariness or cloudiness. Different places have different weather and they can change frequently. In fact, sometimes the weather can change frequently within a day as well. All things said, weather is the day-to-day state of the atmosphere and its short-term variation in minutes to weeks. People generally think of weather as the combination of temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, visibility, and wind. It depends majorly on the atmosphere as it influences the temperature for the day.

If the sun will be out or not, the sky will be cloudy or partially sunny, or if it will rain today all these things help in building the weather. Sometimes it can also happen that two adjacent cities can have different weather. Like one can be facing the scrooching sun and another can be breezy at the same time. So in short, the weather is a short-term thing, can be specific to a small geography and can change fast.

Weather Images, Pictures, Photos - Weather Photographs | Shutterstock
What is the meaning of Weather?

The video mentioned below will help you in understanding Weather a lot better:

Meaning of Weather

What is the meaning of Climate?

Climate is like a long-term condition that remains in a whole area or region. It does not vary from location to location very easily and is usually referred to a whole region together. Like different places in the Delhi NCR can not have different climatic conditions. It can be said that climate means the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years.

What is the meaning of Climate?

The video mentioned below will help you in understanding Climate a lot better:

Meaning of Climate

Difference between Weather and Climate

It is very normal to get confused between these two terms as they are very closely knit. But there is a line that differentiates them. Now let us talk about how weather and climate are different from each other. The main difference between the two is that weather is a short-term thing whereas climate is a long-term thing. According to science climate is supposed to remain the same for at least three decades. And if we talk about whether it can change easily within a span of hours.

Weather can change from region to region but the climate of a whole region or location stays the same. Weather can change from minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day, and season to season. However, Climate is the average of weather over time and space.

Let’s take an example of Delhi NCR on a particular day the weather of Delhi and Gurgaon can differ from each other and can change within the day. But the climate of the whole region is the same which is hot and humid and will not change within a day.

Weather vs Climate - Difference between Weather and Climate? - YouTube
What is the difference between Weather and Climate?

There is also a difference between the climate of the whole region and its different parts. The climate of India is normal like hot and humid but there are many different areas within the nation as well. Most of North India thus stays warm during summers and is only mildly chilly or cold during winter; the climate in South India is generally hotter and more humid due to its coasts. And they have been the same for a very long time.

To sum up, all the things it can be said that Climate is what you expect, the Weather is what you get.

Weather and climate are very different from each other but they are related to each other in a lot of terms as well. Like it we talk about the climatic conditions of eastern Africa that are very hot then we can not expect a snowfall all of the sudden. Like if we talk about Norway then we can not expect a scrooching sun and very hot weather there. Now let’s take the example of India. It is not likely to see a snowfall in the coastal areas of Kerala. So the weather of a region is highly influenced by the climate of that area and most of the ties are related to each other. The temperature variations of the place are also dependent on weather and climate.

Final Thoughts on Difference Between Weather and Climate

Weather and climate are inseparable parts of our lives. Our day-to-day activities are highly influenced by it. Like if we need to go somewhere then first we will check the weather and then plan accordingly. But both of these terms are very confusing and this article will help in clearing that confusion up to some extent. After reading this you will get to know about what all factors lead to the build-up of climate and how weather change and vary from place o place. This article will add a lot to your knowledge.

For more information, visit Podium School.

Share with your friends