Understanding Weather Patterns

• Weather and climate are similar but refer to different time scales.
• Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions.
• Climate describes long-term, average atmospheric conditions.

Weather Defined

• Weather includes short-term atmospheric conditions at a specific time
• Examples of weather types: rain, snow, sun, clouds, wind, humidity, cold.
• Weather can include thunderstorms.

Elements Contributing to Weather

• Distance from the sun affects temperature, with areas closer to the equator being warmer.
• Latitudinal location: weather varies more throughout the year farther from the equator.
• Air pressure changes cause rain, snow, wind, and other weather.
• Proximity to large bodies of water increases atmospheric moisture
• All these contribute to weather patterns.

Studying Weather

• Meteorologists study and predict weather using data.
• Satellites, radar, and barometers provide atmospheric information.
• Information helps make hourly, daily, and weekly weather comparisons and forecasts.
• Weather study is important because it impacts human activity.
• Accurate forecasts can save lives by predicting severe events like tornadoes or hurricanes.

Famous Meteorologists

• John Dalton: a pioneer who created instruments to measure humidity, temperature and pressure to make forecasts in the late 1700s.
• Jim Cantore: a modern meteorologist who reports on severe storms.

Climate Defined

• Climate is the long-term weather patterns in a specific region.
• Climate is the average weather pattern over an extended period.
• Example: Florida has a warm, humid, and rainy climate.
• The elements that contribute to weather also contribute to climate.
• Locations near the equator have warmer climates.

Studying Climate

• Climate is studied by analyzing weather patterns over an extended period.

• Analysis helps determine factors like annual rainfall, average temperatures, and average humidity.

• Climate analysis is scaled to seasons, years, or decades.

• The NOAA studies weather and climate patterns in the United States and worldwide.

• The NOAA updates climate information every 10 years based on the prior 30 years of weather.

• Slight climate changes can significantly impact the planet.

• Small temperature changes can lead to severe storms and flooding.

• Climate changes can impact agriculture, food supply, and sea levels.

• Global warming is an example of climate change.

• Climatologists study climate.

• Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Hippocrates are considered to be the first climatologists.

• Jefferson recorded temperature and rainfall daily to analyze climate.

Weather vs. Climate Differences

• Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions.
• Climate refers to average atmospheric conditions over an extended period (e.g., 30 years).
• Weather forecasts are hourly, daily, or weekly, while climate describes average conditions like summer temperatures or yearly rainfall.
• Weathermen make weather forecasts, not climate forecasts.

Weather vs. Climate Relationship

• Both involve temperature, rainfall, humidity, and other atmospheric conditions.
• Climate is the average weather conditions of an area over time.
• Both impact environmental issues like global warming and climate change.
• Daily, weekly, and monthly weather changes can lead to climate changes.
• Even small climate changes can significantly alter local ecosystems and agriculture.

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate describes long-term patterns. Weather includes elements like rain, snow, and wind, influenced by factors like distance from the sun and air pressure. Meteorologists study weather using data from satellites and radar.