Understanding Climate Change: The Difference Between Weather And Climate
Weather is the condition of the atmosphere on a day to day basis or for other short spans of time. For example, the weather may be stormy for several days, and after the storm has passed the weather changes. Climate on the other hand is the condition of the atmosphere over a long period of time. It is the statistical average of the weather experienced in a place. Usually, weather is studied for around thirty years in order to determine climate.
Climate changes are the changes noticed in the long term patterns shown by the weather. For example, if you are in a tropical country, you may be accustomed to summers starting in late March, the rainy season starting in June or July, while the cool season begins in November till February. However, if you slowly notice that the summers are starting sooner, the rainy seasons lasting longer, and the cool season becoming shorter, then you are witnessing changes in the patterns of the weather. This means that the climate is starting to change.
The current changes in the earth's climate have been noted that around the world. Climate is rising in temperature. This rise is usually attributed to the greenhouse gas effect, first noticed by Svante Arrhenius. It is important to study the change of the earth's climate because it affects everything on earth. A rise in temperature will cause the polar ice to melt, causing seas to rise, and islands to disappear. At the same time, the water cycle will change because evaporation and transpiration rates will change. Plants and animals can suffer. Water supply may also become considerably less. This will alter the various ecosystems that rely on climate and stable weather to survive.
At present, various organizations have started movements in order to slow down the process of climate change and maybe even reverse it. Lessening the carbon gas emissions, using clean and renewable energy, recycling, and only taking what we need to survive can greatly help the earth.
Climate change can still be altered, but it will require a change in lifestyle for many people on earth. It is important to do what we can in order to prolong the time we have on this planet.
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