Weather and Climate

When you imagine a desert climate, you probably picture a dry, hot, sandy landscape. A desert is characterized by dry conditions, but that does not mean that a desert never experiences rain, snow, or other types of precipitation. Weather refers to the current atmospheric conditions, such as the temperature and precipitation, while climate is the average weather conditions over several decades or longer. Weather and climate are both determined by Earth’s atmospheric conditions, but are very different concepts. In this topic, you will distinguish between weather and climate, and learn about the atmospheric conditions that impact the immediate weather and the long-term climate.

Essential Questions

• What is the difference between weather and climate?
• How do global wind currents affect climate?
• How do global air masses affect weather?