Weather, seasons, and climate

Weather, seasons, and climate

Weather

  • Weather refers to the short-term changes in atmospheric conditions in a specific location. Examples include changes in temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind.
  • Factors that influence weather include latitude, altitude, proximity to sea, and wind patterns.
  • Weather events can be either typical (predictable patterns such as seasonal changes) or extreme (unusual occurrences such as hurricanes, blizzards, or heatwaves).

Seasons

  • Seasons are divisions of the year marked by changes in weather, daylight, plant growth, and animal behaviour due to the changing tilt of Earth’s axis relative to the Sun.
  • In temperate regions, there are four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
  • Some tropical regions only have two seasons: a wet season (monsoon) and a dry season.

Climate

  • Climate is the average weather in a location over a long time period, usually at least 30 years.
  • Different climate zones include temperate, tropical, polar, arid, and Mediterranean.
  • Factors that determine climate include nearest bodies of water, altitude, and latitude.
  • Climate change refers to long-term changes in global average temperatures and weather patterns, primarily due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels.

Impact of Climate and Weather on Human Activity

  • Weather and climate can significantly influence human activities, such as agriculture, construction, recreation, and resource management.
  • For example, farmers depend on predictable weather and seasonal changes for planting and harvesting crops.
  • Climate can dictate the types of buildings and structures that are appropriate for a location, taking into consideration factors such as insulation, ventilation, and resistance to local weather events.
  • Extreme weather events can cause damage and disruption to human activities and infrastructure. This often has economic impacts and can potentially result in loss of life.
  • Climate change is projected to have widespread impacts, including sea level rise, changes in weather patterns, loss of biodiversity, and threats to food security.