Climate is one of the basic elements of the natural environment: it affects landforms, soil types, fauna and flora, and influences what we eat and wear, our houses, farming, sailing and transport. Weather is the short-term state of the atmosphere; climate is its average over a long period. Both share the same elements – temperature, rainfall, air pressure, humidity and wind.
1. Weather and Climate
The atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the earth, retained by gravity. It contains about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.97% argon, 0.03% carbon dioxide and 0.04% trace gases and water vapour.
| Weather | Climate |
|---|---|
| Day-to-day condition of the atmosphere at a place (sunshine, temperature, cloud, wind, fog, pressure, humidity, precipitation) | Average condition of the weather of a place or region |
| Refers to short periods – a day, a week, a month or a little longer | Found by measuring weather elements over a long period |
| Changes often – even within a day | Does not change often |
| Scientific study: Meteorology | Scientific study: Climatology |