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