Weather is the day-to-day condition of the atmosphere, commonly described by temperature, humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, and atmospheric stability. Climate describes averages and patterns of atmospheric conditions over longer periods. A rainy afternoon is weather; the long-term pattern of rainy seasons in a region is part of its climate.
Most familiar weather occurs in the troposphere, the lowest atmospheric layer, just beneath the stratosphere. Conditions in the stratosphere can also affect the troposphere, although some of the processes involved are not fully understood.
All flashcards
What is weather?
Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific place and time, including conditions such as temperature, humidity, clouds, and precipitation.
How does climate differ from weather?
Climate describes longer-term averages and patterns of atmospheric conditions; weather describes conditions over shorter periods.
What is the troposphere?
The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, just below the stratosphere, where most familiar weather occurs.
How do pressure differences create wind?
Uneven heating can create pressure differences. Air moves horizontally from higher-pressure toward lower-pressure regions, producing wind.
What does the Coriolis effect do to airflow?
Earth's rotation deflects moving air, influencing the direction of winds and the circulation patterns they form.
Quiz questions
What does weather describe?Answer: The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.
Which atmospheric layer contains most familiar weather phenomena?Answer: The troposphere.
What is the main difference between weather and climate?Answer: Weather describes short-term conditions, while climate describes longer-term averages and patterns.
What generally drives horizontal air movement from one region to another?Answer: A pressure gradient that moves air from higher toward lower pressure.
Why can small errors in initial atmospheric conditions reduce a forecast's accuracy over time?Answer: The atmosphere is chaotic, so small differences can grow into larger changes.
Based on the Wikipedia article Weather, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.