Weather and Climate

Ms. Osborne

Essential Questions

• What is the difference in weather and climate?

• How can we use weather and climate to predict the weather?

• What information do we collect to discover information about the climate?

Weather and Climate Relationship

• You have already learned a lot about weather, but what do you know about climate?

• How are the two related?

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a certain time and place…so, weather is what happens over a short period of time. What are some questions you could ask about the weather?

Climate

Climate is the average type of weather that occurs in a place over a long period of time.When you discuss seasonal patterns of weather in an area, you’re talking about climate.

What types of questions describe climate?

Georgia is in the subtropical climate zone…

Our climate is characterized by:• Warm to hot summers• Mild winters, with short periods of cold• Humid conditions most of the time• Plentiful precipitation, mostly in the summer• Occasional winter snow

Factors that influence climate…Latitude The farther north, the colder the climate.

Land and Water Locations near large bodies of water have milder climates than places inland.

Elevation The higher the elevation, the cooler the climate.

Landform Barriers Can influence precipitation; side of a mountain facing wind gets more rain than sheltered side.

Ocean Currents Warm and cold currents can cool or warm nearby climates on land.