Climate vs. Weather

Climate is the average trajectory of weather and temperature over a long period of time. Weather is temperature and precipitation over short periods of time, and can vary greatly.

The average temperature around the globe has risen 1.2 degrees C since the Industrial Revolution. This level of global warming/climate change is causing weather extremes that are putting wildlife, ecosystems, and human health and safety in danger.

An example of a weather extreme linked to climate change: during the winter of 2023, Greenland had a day that was 50 degrees above normal, putting the Greenland ice sheet at increasing risk of tipping.

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“The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.

When we talk about climate change, we talk about changes in long-term averages of daily weather. Today, children always hear stories from their parents and grandparents about how snow was always piled up to their waists as they trudged off to school. Children today in most areas of the country haven't experienced those kinds of dreadful snow-packed winters, except for the Northeastern U.S. in January 2005. The change in recent winter snows indicate that the climate has changed since their parents were young.”

NASA, What’s the difference between weather  and climate

“Warming air also boosts evaporation, which can worsen drought. More drought creates dry fields and forests that are prone to catching fire, and increasing temperatures mean a longer wildfire season. Global warming also increases water vapor in the atmosphere, which can lead to more frequent heavy rain and snowstorms.

A warmer and more moist atmosphere over the oceans makes it likely that the strongest hurricanes will be more intense, produce more rainfall, and possibly be larger. In addition, global warming causes sea level to rise, which increases the amount of seawater, along with more rainfall, that is pushed on to shore during coastal storms. That seawater, along with more rainfall, can result in destructive flooding. While global warming is likely making hurricanes more intense, scientists don’t know yet if global warming is increasing the number of hurricanes each year. The effect of global warming on the frequency, intensity, size, and speed of hurricanes remains a subject of scientific research.”

National Academies, Global warming is contributing to extreme weather events