5.1.1

Weather & Climate

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Weather and Climate

Many people mix up what is weather and what is climate.

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Weather

  • Weather is the state of the atmosphere at one particular place at one particular time.
  • The weather can change suddenly.
  • Weather expressions are things like:
    • "It's raining cats and dogs!"
    • "It's a scorcher today!"
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Climate

  • Climate is the state of the atmosphere over many years or over a large area.
  • It is the 'average' of the weather.
  • Examples of different types of climate on Earth include:
    • Desert climates.
    • Polar climates.
    • Tropical rainforest climates.
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How does the weather affect us?

  • The weather affects us if it is too cold, wet or dry for an event to take place or for us to do something.
    • Heavy rain can stop some sporting events, such as cricket.
    • Gale force winds can affect transportation, with roads being closed and ferries cancelled.
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How does the climate affect us?

  • Climate tends to have more long-term effects than weather.
  • The effects of climate include:
    • Agriculture, certain plants will grow in specific climates.
    • Settlement, if there is no rainfall somewhere life cannot survive.

Jump to other topics

1Geography Skills

2Geology of the UK

3Geography of the World

4Development

5Weather & Climate

6The World of Work

7Natural Resources

8Rivers

9Coasts

10Glaciers

11Tectonics

12Climate Change

13Global Population & Inequality

14Urbanisation

15Ecosystems

16Life in an Emerging Country

17Analysis of Africa

18Analysis of India

19Analysis of the Middle East

20Analysis of Bangladesh

21Analysis of Russia

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