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Learn the difference between daily weather and the long-term climate of a specific region.
If you look out your window right now, are you seeing the 'weather' or the 'climate'? Most people get these mixed up, but knowing the difference is like knowing the difference between one scene in a movie and the whole story!
Weather is what is happening outside right now. It can change in minutes! It might be sunny at breakfast but rainy by lunch. Climate, on the other hand, is the average weather pattern in a place over a long time—usually 30 years or more. Think of it this way: Weather is the outfit you wear today (like a raincoat), but Climate is your entire wardrobe (all the clothes you own because of where you live).
Quick Check
If a news reporter says, 'It will be and sunny tomorrow,' are they talking about weather or climate?
Answer
Weather, because it describes a specific, short-term event.
Two big factors decide a region's climate: Latitude and Elevation. Latitude is how far a place is from the Equator (). Places near the Equator get direct sunlight all year, making them hot. Elevation is how high a place is above sea level. Even if you are in a warm area, if you climb a high mountain, the air gets thinner and colder. This is why you can sometimes see snow on top of mountains in the middle of summer!
Let's look at how elevation changes things: 1. Start at the base of a mountain where the temperature is . 2. Drive up the mountain road to the peak. 3. Notice the temperature drop to . Even though the latitude is the same, the higher elevation makes the climate much colder at the top.
Quick Check
Which would likely have a colder climate: A city at latitude or a city at latitude?
Answer
The city at latitude, because it is much further from the Equator.
Climate determines what can live in a region. This is called adaptation. Plants and animals develop special 'tools' to survive. In a Desert Climate, a cactus has a waxy skin to keep water inside. In a Polar Climate, a polar bear has a thick layer of fat called blubber to stay warm. If the climate changes too fast, these plants and animals might struggle to survive because their 'tools' no longer fit their environment.
Imagine a region with high elevation, very low temperatures, and snow most of the year. 1. Identify the climate: It is a Polar or Alpine climate. 2. Predict the plant: You wouldn't find a palm tree here; you might find small mosses or tough evergreen trees. 3. Predict the animal: You would find animals with thick fur or the ability to hibernate during the coldest months.
Which of these is an example of climate?
What happens to the temperature as you move from latitude toward latitude?
A cactus living in the desert is an example of an animal or plant adapting to its climate.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, look at the sky and tell someone: 'The weather today is [X], but the climate in our town is usually [Y].'
Practice Activity
Pick an animal (like a camel or a penguin) and draw three 'tools' it has on its body that help it survive in its specific climate.