Climate
Climate, from the Greek word klima (κλίμα), is the over all weather pattern for an extended period for any defined geographical location which may be over any size of area up to and including the entire Earth. Climate differs from weather in that on a particular day in a desert, for example, there may be rainy weather, but for most days for many years there is little or no rain—rainy weather for a day in a desert climate for many years. Two places, in other words, like Bombay, India and Vladivostock may both have similar weather for a brief time, such as a cloudless sunny day, but their climate is extremely different. Put another way, weather may change from day to day or hour to hour, whilst climate is the average weather pattern for many years. Commonly the weather patterns that define a climate are averaged for a period of 30 years
Climate is also different from season. A season [1] is usually a period of time of months, in which the weather can change drastically. Typhoon season in Asia is very windy and rainy. In some places it may rain a great deal for many months. The reminder of the year, the weather can be virtually without rain.
Climate variables include, precipitation (frost, fog, rain hail storms, snow), humidity (water vapour in the air), wind, amount of sunlight, temperature and other measures of weather.
References
- ↑ Greek ωρα (ôra): division of the year, Latin sătĭonem (nom. satio): a sowing or planting. Possibly derived from 14th century, Old French seson, or seison (Modern French saison) from Latin serere ‘to sow’.) Confer: [1] Woodhouse’s English – Greek Dictionary, University of Chicago Library; [2] Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, Perseus Digitical Library, Tufts University; [3] Compact Oxford English Dictionary; [4] Online Etymology Dictionary
- ↑ Glossary of Climate ChangeCalifornia Climate Change Portal
- ↑ What is the difference between climate and weather? Climate Change, Environmental Protection Agency, USA