THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

WEATHER AND CLIMATE

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This PowerPoint presentation will help you learn how to read several different climate

graphs and charts.

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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEATHER AND CLIMATE

WEATHER

Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a given place and time. The what is happening now. For example, right now, the temperature in New York City, New York may be 76°F with rain.

Image from Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AstorPlace_NYC_June2000.jpg

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CLIMATE

Climate is the average condition of the atmosphere (such as temperature or precipitation) over a long period of time.

For example, the average temperature over the past 30 years for the month of February may be 27°F. The average precipitation is 2.8 inches.

Climate is the average of weather conditions in a place.

Image from Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_York_City_Transit_snow_removal_(11312318703).jpg

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JUST CHECKING

1. What is weather?

2. What is climate?

3. How are weather and climate different?

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TWO IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF WEATHER AND CLIMATE: PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE

Precipitation includes all forms of moisture falling to the surface of the earth. (Examples: rain, sleet, snow, hail)

Temperature is how warm or cool the air is outside.

Mean=Average

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Image from flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/httpwwwyoumeflickrcom/8096554090

Image from pixabay, https://pixabay.com/en/japan-temple-snow-snowing-religion-69128/

Image from Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sleet_(ice_pellets).jpg

Image from flikr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/41758531@N08/4454332834

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LET’S PRACTICE: NOAA

Go to http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag

•You should be on the page “Climate at a Glance”

•The time series tab for the U.S. should be selected.

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LET’S PRACTICE: NOAA GRAPH KEY

• The redred line represents the maximum.

• The blueblue line represent the minimum.

• The graygray or purplepurple line is the average.

• Precipitation is in inches, millimeters (mm), or milliliters (ml).

• Temperature is in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius.

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• Parameter: (varies)

• Time Scale: 1 Month

• Month: (varies)

• Start/End Year: (varies)

• State/Region and Climate Division/city: (varies)

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LET’S PRACTICE: NOAA SETUP

Options:•Check “Display Base Period”•Start: 1995•End: 2014

Click “Plot” and scroll down!

What was the maximum temperature in New York, NY in February 2010?

Setup:

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LET’S PRACTICE: NOAA

What was the maximum temperature in New York, NY in February 2010?

Graph:

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LET’S PRACTICE: NOAA

What was the minimum temperature in Jacksonville, FL in December 1999?

Setup:

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LET’S PRACTICE: NOAA

What was the minimum temperature in Jacksonville, FL in December 1999?

Graph:

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LET’S PRACTICE: NOAA

NOAA: ALL TOGETHER

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These graphs show daily extremes and averages in Denver, CO from 1961-1990.

LET’S PRACTICE – NOTICING PRECIPITATION PATTERNS

Find the climate data (average/mean temperature and precipitation) for Orlando, Florida.

•Go to www.worldclimate.com

•Type “Orlando” in the search box and click on the search button.

•Click on Orlando/Jetport/FL., United States of America.

•Scroll down to Orlando/Jetport/FL., United States of America.

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Click on the average rainfall link. Take note of any patterns you see.

Note: This website uses the words “average rainfall” instead of “average precipitation.” It is more accurate to use “average precipitation” since this includes all forms of precipitation (such as rain, snow, and sleet).

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Year

mm 54.6 72.6 86.5 60.0 83.5 72.6 97.3 68.1 66.3 79.3 52.1 53.0

1247.8

inches

2.1 2.9 3.4 2.4 3.3 6.8 7.8 6.6 6.5 3.1 2.1 2.1 49.1

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LET’S PRACTICE – NOTICING PRECIPITATION PATTERNS

•Is there more precipitation in the summer months (July, August, September) or the winter months (January, February, March)?

•What other patterns do you see in the average precipitation data for Orlando, Florida?

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Year

mm 54.6 72.6 86.5 60.0 83.5 72.6 97.3 68.1 66.3 79.3 52.1 53.0

1247.8

inches

2.1 2.9 3.4 2.4 3.3 6.8 7.8 6.6 6.5 3.1 2.1 2.1 49.1

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LET’S PRACTICE – NOTICING PRECIPITATION PATTERNS

Click the back button and scroll down to Orlando/Jetport/FL., United States of America.

Click on the average temperature link.

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year

°C 15.5 16.6 19.2 21.9 25.1 27.3 28.0 28.0 27.2 23.8 19.7 16.6 22.4

°F 59.9 61.9 66.6 71.4 77.2 81.1 82.4 82.4 81.0 74.8 67.5 61.9 72.3

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LET’S PRACTICE – NOTICING TEMPERATURE PATTERNS

•Is it hotter in the summer (July, August, September) or in the winter months (January, February, March)?

•What other patterns do you see in the average temperature data for Orlando, Florida?

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year

°C 15.5 16.6 19.2 21.9 25.1 27.3 28.0 28.0 27.2 23.8 19.7 16.6 22.4

°F 59.9 61.9 66.6 71.4 77.2 81.1 82.4 82.4 81.0 74.8 67.5 61.9 72.3

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LET’S PRACTICE – NOTICING TEMPERATURE PATTERNS

Now it’s your turn…

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