What is the difference between weather and climate? And why is it important to separate the two terms? If you're looking for answers to this question and are also unsure of what exactly weather means, you've come to the right place! Climate change affects us all - and will affect us all sooner or later if we don't act. Vague claims, lies and conjectures about the Relationship between extreme weather and global warming are absolutely out of place here.
In this article, I would therefore like to explain to you exactly how weather and climate differ from each other and why they are nevertheless closely connected. Let's go!
Why should everyone know the difference between weather and climate?
When devastating extreme weather or a destructive natural disaster occurs, there are always people who have a connection to the climate change produce and those who deny them. As a rule, the same questions always arise:
- How much is extreme weather related to climate change?
- Has the weather become more extreme in general?
- Are weather and climate the same thing?
- Who is mainly responsible for climate change?
And the question "Does climate change exist at all?", which is mostly asked by climate change deniers, we leave aside here. There are many daring claims about the connection between weather events and climate change - the facts are either non-existent or relatively unclear. This is another reason why a clear understanding of the terms weather and climate, as well as their interrelationships, is necessary.
How do weather and climate differ from each other?
Now we come to the core of this article: So where exactly is the difference between weather and climate - and what actually is weather? To do this, let's simply compare the definitions of the terms below.
What is the weather?
The weather describes the physical state of the atmosphere at a given time in a given place.₁ It shows us whether it is currently hot or cold, sunny, cloudy or rainy, dry or humid, and windy or calm, so that we can, for example, plan our day and dress accordingly.
Weather reports also enable us to adjust to the calculated weather conditions of the following days. Individual private persons, but also farmers, logistics and road construction companies, for example, benefit from the improved planning options.
What is the weather?
Under the weather is understood the general, average or even predominant character of the weather pattern of a certain period of time.₂ The time span considered ranges from a few days to seasons. The prevailing weather conditions ultimately determine the characteristics of the weather.
What is the climate?
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), WMO) describes the climate as average weather conditions at a given location over a long period of time.₃ The time span for measurements must be long enough to be able to determine these statistical properties with certainty. Therefore the WMO also to consider characteristic features of the climate, such as frequencies, durations or mean and extreme values of meteorological key figures over at least 30 years. Often, even statistics over periods of several centuries or millennia are evaluated.
For climate researchers, it must be possible to indicate the probability of deviations from mean values by taking extreme values into account. Climatic zones can ultimately be divided using the annual average values of temperature and precipitation.
The climate can also be divided into the following categories in terms of its considered locations and areas:
- Microclimate (considers very small area)
- Mesoclimate (considers a specific region)
- Macroclimate (considers large parts of the earth or the entire earth).
So where is the difference?
The Observation period is the essential difference between weather, weather and climate. Weather and weather conditions make it easier for us to plan the day, week and month. Climate, on the other hand, can be used to make reliable statements about weather changes and general weather phenomena in cities, regions or the entire world.
Climate change also reveals itself through the weather. Weather and extreme weather events should therefore be seen as symptoms of global warming, the causes of which are predominantly man-made.
Climate change increases the probability of extreme weather events
So has the weather become more extreme? The only true answer is: in many cases yes, but not in all circumstances. After all, not every extreme weather event can be equally explained by climate change. But the rising average temperature on earth definitely increases the probability of extreme weather events.₄
Good to know: The World Weather Attribution is a team of climate researchers who are developing individual Map weather events to climate change in real time can. As a result, the uncertainty as to whether and to what extent a natural disaster has been influenced by climate change will disappear in the future.
Wetter & Klima hängen miteinander zusammen, sind aber unterschiedliche Dinge!
So weather and climate are not the same thing - but Climate changes can be seen from the weather. The difference between weather and climate is mainly found in the time span of observation. Weather refers to a specific point in time, while climate describes the average weather conditions over a longer period of time.
I hope that I could bring light into the darkness with this contribution. In conclusion, I would like to provide you with further articles:
- Stop climate change - Everyone can do it!
- The biggest environmental problems of our time
- Can veganism solve the climate problem?
Do you have questions or suggestions for improvement? Then write me a comment at any time!
Stay inquisitive,
PS.: Look you with pleasure still something in the sustainable knowledge blog around! There you will learn, for example, what is meant by the concept of Environmental Ethics understands.
References:
₁ Bibliographisches Institut GmbH; Dudenverlag: Wetter, available at https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Wetter_Zustand_Klima_Gewitter_Gas. [03.08.2021].
₂ Deutscher Wetterdienst: Witterung, abrufbar unter https://www.dwd.de/DE/service/lexikon/Functions/glossar.html?lv2=102936&lv3=103212. [03.08.2021].
₃ World Meteorological Organization (WMO): Climate, available at https://public.wmo.int/en/about-us/frequently-asked-questions/climate. [03.08.2021].
₄ Friederike Otto (2020): Wütendes Wetter, Ullstein Verlag, Munich, 1st edition, August 2020, p.13.
