Difference between climate and weather: We explain how climate and weather differ. In addition, what are the elements of climate and the factors that affect it.
What is the difference between climate and weather?
We often use the terms climate and atmospheric weather or weather in everyday life as if they were synonyms, when in reality they are two very different concepts.
Climate is the set of meteorological conditions that characterize a certain place on the planet, that is, it is the normal meteorological trend of a specific site. Weather, on the other hand, refers to the particular state of the atmosphere (actually the troposphere, its lowest layer) at a given place and time.
In other words, weather refers to the momentary, short-term state of the atmosphere at a location. It is expressed in manifestations such as rain, cold or heat, wind or any other atmospheric phenomenon. Weather is what you normally check before leaving home, by tuning in to the weather station on the radio or television, or through computer applications designed for that purpose. You must read about Zeus once.
Climate, on the other hand, is the general or normal trend of the weather at that location, and is determined through long-term measurements and statistics. This is because the climate of a region does not change from one day to the next (as the weather does), but rather it is a continuous meteorological panorama.
Thus, it is possible to organize the planetary geography according to climatic patterns, that is, the very different types of climate that are observed in the different regions of the Earth: the humid subtropical climate, the temperate climate or the Mediterranean climate, to cite just a few examples.
In short, the weather in a place refers to how the atmosphere is at that moment; while the climate of a place refers to how the atmosphere is usually at different times of the year. Maybe you should definitely read about Apartheid once.
Elements of the climate
The climate of a region is made up of different elements, that is, values that are recorded throughout the year to know its patterns and the impact that this has on the perception of the atmosphere by human beings. These elements are:
- Atmospheric temperature: This is the degree of heat (that is, energy) that there is in the atmosphere at a given time and place. This depends largely on the amount of solar radiation and the perpendicularity of the sun’s rays, since the greater the incidence of solar radiation, the warmer the atmosphere will become.
- Atmospheric pressure: This is the force exerted by the atmosphere on the Earth’s surface, that is, its weight: an atmosphere loaded with water vapour and raindrops weighs much more than a clear atmosphere, for example. However, pressure can also vary according to altitude: the higher up we are, the less pressure we will feel.
- Wind: This is the movement of air masses as a result of local variations in atmospheric pressure. When air masses move, we perceive them as wind, and in doing so they usually have an important effect on the distribution of energy in the atmosphere.
- Humidity: This is the amount of water vapour present in the atmosphere, which is directly linked to the hydrological cycle, but also to the topographic and water conditions of the place. Places near large bodies of water (lakes, seas, rivers) are more humid, while desert areas or plains in the middle of continents tend to be drier.
- Precipitation: This refers to the amount, frequency and volume of rain in a given place and time. It also includes other forms of precipitation, such as snow and hail, which occur depending on the temperature, pressure and humidity conditions in the atmosphere.
Climate factors
Climate factors are the aspects that determine the climate of a place, that is, the conditions and variables that decide whether said place has one or another type of climate. These factors are:
- The altitude of the place: This refers to the height at which a place is located, whether at sea level or on top of a mountain. At higher altitudes, the atmosphere has lower temperatures, greater solar radiation and lower atmospheric pressure, and these elements allow for the identification of clearly differentiated thermal “steps.”
- The latitude of the place: This refers to the geographic location of the place with respect to the central planetary axis, which is the equator. Places far from the latter tend to have more extreme climates, with less solar incidence and clearly differentiated seasons, while regions close to the equator lack seasons and have warmer and more regular climates.
- The distance from the sea: This refers to the proximity or distance of a place with respect to the sea or any other large body of water. Places close to the sea have more atmospheric humidity and therefore more stable climates, while remote places tend to be dry and have more extreme climates.
- Relief orientation: This refers to the location of a place in its geography, that is, the way it is located on the earth’s surface. Depending on whether it is in a valley, on the side of a mountain or on the coast, the climate will be shaped by the topography.
- Ocean currents: This refers to the continuous movement of large masses of water in the oceans, which have different degrees of temperature and, therefore, different margins of impact on the climate. When moving, the waters transmit or retain energy from the atmosphere, causing changes in wind patterns and humidity in the environment. Of particular importance are the Gulf Stream, which brings warm water to the intertropical coasts of Europe; or the Labrador Current, which brings cold water from the pole to the north of the Atlantic Ocean.
- The direction of planetary and stationary winds: This refers to the movement of large masses of air in the atmosphere, which circulate from one region to another continuously and permanently, or during certain times of the year. As with ocean currents, the flow of winds has an important impact on the distribution of energy in the atmosphere and on the production of atmospheric phenomena. For example, in the East many countries have a clearly recognizable monsoon season, which brings with it torrential rains and a general cooling of the climate.
Instruments for measuring meteorological weather
While the study of the climate is undertaken at a geographical level, through the study of its triggering factors, the study of the weather is carried out in a practical and immediate way, through the use of different scientific instruments, such as:
- The environmental thermometer: This is a device with a heat-sensitive end, not very different from the one we use to measure body temperature, which is used to record the temperature of the atmosphere. At higher temperatures, the sensitive material expands and in its movement it records the degrees of heat thanks to a scale printed on the device.
- The barometer: It is a device capable of measuring atmospheric pressure, using a column of liquid (formerly mercury, but today it can be water) on which the weight of the atmosphere acts, making it move towards a larger container. Thus, by measuring the displacement of the liquid inside the container, the amount of force that the atmosphere exerts on it can be calculated.
- The anemometer: It is a device equipped with a windlass or mobile device, sensitive to the force of the wind, and which, when rotating on its axis, measures the force and speed with which the mass of air moves. In other words, it is used to measure the intensity and speed with which the wind blows.
- The rain gauge: It is a cylindrical device with an initial opening that allows the volume of precipitation to be collected and measured in a given place and during a given time. The water sample taken by the device is measured (using a graduated ruler or the weight of the water itself) to obtain a projection of the amount of rain that has fallen.
- The weather vane: It is an artifact that rotates on its own axis as the wind forces it, and that has a pointer very similar to that of a compass, to indicate the direction in which the wind blows with respect to the four cardinal points.
References
All the information we offer is supported by authorized and updated bibliographic sources, which ensure reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
- “Climate” in Wikipedia.
- “Weather” in Wikipedia.
- “Weather and climate” in Wikipedia.
- “Differences between climate and weather” in Univisión.
- “Difference between weather and climate” in Meteorology and climatology of Navarra (Spain).
