Is there a difference?

Climate Vs. WeatherClimate

Long-term weather patterns of an area

Weather Current state of the troposphere

Short term variations

ClimatologyThe study of Earth’s climate and the factors

that affect past, present, and future climatic changes

NormalsStandard values for a

locationAverage values over a

long period of time

What Causes Different Climates?Topography

Coastal Regions, areas near water, are warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer

Latitude

Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Cancer

Arctic Circle

Antarctic Circle

66.5° N

23.5° N

23.5° S

66.5° S

0°

Tropics

Tropics

Temperate

Polar

Polar

Temperate

Climate RegionsTropics

Most solar radiation, generally warmBetween Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer

TemperateBetween 23.5 and 66.5 North and SouthMild temperatures

Polar66.5 North and South to the PolesCold Temperatures

Koeppen Classification SystemClassified based on temperature and amount

of precipitation

TropicalDryMildContinentalPolar

Climate Change

Long-Term Climatic ChangeClimates change over extremely long periods

of time

Ice Ages – Periods of extensive glacial coverageMost recent ended

10,000 years agoTemps dropped 5°C

Short-Term Climatic ChangeCaused by regular

variations in daylight, temp, and weather patterns

Examples: Seasons El Nino (Warm

ocean current)