Weather versus Climate

Weather comprises the day-to-day changes in observed atmospheric phenomena:– Temperature, Precipitation, Wind, Clouds

Climate is a description of the long-term and average atmospheric conditions at a site– Monthly Mean, Record Precipitation, Wind

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Weather versus Climate

Weather Reports can be from every 15 minutes to once a day.

KUNV 1254Z 30BKN 100OVC 7SM M01/M03/3411

Climate Reports describe the frequency of weather occurrences.

Weather versus Climate

Role of Latitude– length of daylight– evaporation rates– frequency within polar

front zone– vegetation type

Role of Land– continental vs maritime

• west side vs east side

– elevation• altitude - biggest effect

– sources of moisture• lakes, rivers, gulfs

Weather versus Climate

Weather versus Climate

Weather versus Climate

Weather versus Climate

Weather versus Climate

Weather versus Climate

Weather versus Climate

Frequency of Hazardous Weather– Tornadoes– Hail storms– Floods (Flash & River)– Damaging Winds– Lightning– Snowstorms– Ice Storms

Weather versus Climate

Microclimates– a separate climate within a larger climate zone

• caused by smaller scale effects [natural and man-made]

– slope of land– valley orientation– surrounding vegetation– soil type– nearby industry or population centers– water bodies (creeks, lakes, rivers)

Weather versus Climate Climate is the way of

measuring the average weather– seeks to describe

elements in detail– uses statistical methods to

explain• standard deviation• mean, median, mode• probability• return periods