• What is the difference between climate and weather?
• weather elements
• climate factors
• Instruments to measure the weather

We explain how climate and weather differ. In addition, what are the elements of the climate and the factors that affect it.

Weather refers to a short-lived state, while climate is a general, cyclical trend.

What is the difference between climate and weather?

In everyday life we ​​often use the terms climate and weather or meteorological weather as if they were synonyms, when in reality they are two very different concepts.

The climate is the set of meteorological conditions that characterize a certain place on the planet, that is, it is the normal meteorological trend of a specific site. Instead, time refers to the particular state of the atmosphere (actually the troposphere, its lowest layer) at a given place and time.

In other words, weather refers to the momentary, short-lived state of the atmosphere at a site. It is expressed in manifestations such as the rain, cold or heat, the wind or any other atmospheric phenomenon. The weather is what is normally checked before leaving home, by tuning in to the weather station on the radio or television, or through computer applications designed for it.

Instead, climate is the general or normal trend of weather in that location, and is determined through long-term measurements and statistics. This is because the climate of a region it does not change from one day to the next (as the weather does), but rather it is a continuous weather panorama.

Thus, it is possible to organize the planetary geography according to climatic patterns, that is, to the well-differentiated types of climate that are observed in the different regions of the Earth: the humid subtropical climate, the temperate climate or the Mediterranean climate, to name a few. just some examples.

In short, the weather in a place refers to what the atmosphere is like at that moment; while the climate of a place refers to how the atmosphere is usually at different times of the year.

weather elements

The climate of a region is made up of different elements, that is, values ​​that are recorded throughout the year in order to know its patterns and the impact that this has on the perception of the atmosphere by the Humans. These elements are:

• The temperature atmospheric. It is the degree of heat (that is, of Energy) in the atmosphere at a given time and place. This largely depends on the amount of solar radiation and the perpendicularity of the sun's rays, since the higher the incidence of solar radiation, the hotter the atmosphere will become.
• The atmospheric pressure. It is the force exerted by the atmosphere on the earth's surface, that is, its weight: an atmosphere charged with water steam and of raindrops weighs much more than a clear atmosphere, for example. However, the pressure can also vary according to altitude: the higher we are, the less pressure we will feel.
• Wind. It is the displacement of the masses of air due to local variations in atmospheric pressure. When air masses move, we perceive them as wind, and in doing so they often have a significant effect on the distribution of energy in the atmosphere.
• The humidity. This is the amount of water vapor present in the atmosphere, which is directly linked to the hydrological cycle, but also with the topographical and hydric conditions of the place.Sites close to large bodies of water (lakes, seas, rivers) are more humid, while desert places or plains in the middle of continents They are usually drier.
• The precipitation. It is about the quantity, frequency and volume of rain in a given place and time. It also includes other forms of precipitation, such as snow and hail, which occur depending on the conditions of temperature, pressure and humidity in the atmosphere.

climate factors

Climate factors are the aspects that determine the climate of a place, that is, the conditions and variables who decide that said place presents one or another type of climate. These factors are:

• The altitude of the place. It refers to the height at which a place is located, either at sea level or at the top of a mountain. mountain. At higher altitudes, the atmosphere has lower temperatures, higher solar radiation and lower atmospheric pressure, and these elements allow clearly differentiated thermal "steps" to be identified.
• The latitude of the place. It refers to the geographical location of the place with respect to the planetary central axis that is the equator. The places far from the latter tend to have more extreme climates, with lower solar incidence and clearly differentiated seasons, while the regions near the equator lack seasons and have warmer and more regular climates.
• The distance from sea. It refers to the proximity or distance of a site from the sea or any other large body of water. Sites close to the sea have higher atmospheric humidity and therefore more stable climates, while remote places tend to be dry and have more extreme climates.
• The orientation of the relief. It refers to the location of a place in its geography, that is, to the way in which it is located on the earth's surface. Depending on whether you are in a Valley, on a mountainside or on the coast, the climate will be shaped by the topography.
• The ocean currents. It refers to the continuous movement of large masses of water from oceans, which present different degrees of temperature and, therefore, different margins of incidence in the climate. When moving, the waters transmit or retain energy from the atmosphere, causing changes in wind patterns and humidity in the environment. Of particular importance are the Gulf Stream, which brings warm water to the intertropical shores of Europe; or the Labrador Current, which carries cold water from the pole to the north of the Atlantic Ocean.
• The direction of planetary and stationary winds. It refers to the displacement of large masses of air in the atmosphere, which circulate from one region to another continuously and permanently, or during certain times of the year. As with ocean currents, the flow of winds has an important impact on the distribution of energy in the atmosphere and the production of atmospheric phenomena. For example, in the East many countries have a clearly recognizable monsoon wind season, which brings torrential rains and a general cooling of the climate.

Instruments to measure the weather

The anemometer allows to measure the intensity and speed of the wind.

While the study of climate is undertaken at geographical levels, through the study of its triggering factors, the study of time is carried out in a practical and immediate way, through the use of different scientific instruments, such as:

• The thermometer environmental. It is a device with a heat-sensitive termination, not unlike the one we use to measure body temperature, which is used to record the temperature of the atmosphere.At higher temperatures, the sensitive material dilates and in its movement registers the degrees of heat thanks to a scale printed on the device.
• The barometer. It is a device capable of measuring atmospheric pressure, using a column of liquid (formerly mercury, but today it can be water) on which the weight of the atmosphere affects, making it move towards a larger container. Thus, by measuring the displacement of the liquid within the container, it is possible to calculate the amount of strength that the atmosphere exerts on it.
• The anemometer. It is a device equipped with a pinwheel or mobile device, sensitive to the thrust of the wind, and when it rotates on its axis it measures the force and speed with which the mass of air moves. In other words, it is used to measure the intensity and speed with which the wind blows.
• The rain gauge. It is a cylindrical device with an initial opening that allows collecting and measuring the volume of precipitation in a given place and time. The water sample taken by the device is measured (using a graduated ruler or the weight of the water itself) to obtain a projection of the amount of rain that has fallen.
• the weather vane It is an artifact that rotates on its own axis as the displacement of the wind exerts force on it, and that has a pointer very similar to that of a compass, to indicate the direction in which the wind blows with respect to the four cardinal points. .