Registered Environmental Manager (REM) Practice Exam

What is the primary difference between weather and climate?

1. Weather reflects long-term patterns; climate refers to daily conditions

2. Weather is subjective; climate is objective data

3. Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is long-term averages

4. Weather can be predicted; climate cannot be predicted

The correct answer is: Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is long-term averages

The primary difference between weather and climate lies in the time scales they represent. Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area at a particular time, which can vary from hour to hour or day to day. This includes factors like temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, and visibility. For example, it can be sunny in the morning and rainy in the afternoon. On the other hand, climate represents the long-term average of these weather conditions over an extended period, typically 30 years or more. Climate provides insights into the patterns and trends of temperature and precipitation for a particular region, allowing for broader assessments over time. For instance, a region may have a climate characterized as tropical, suggesting warm temperatures and ample rainfall throughout most of the year. This distinction is crucial for environmental management because understanding the long-term climate trends can significantly affect planning and adaptation strategies, while weather predictions are more about immediate decision-making based on short-term atmospheric changes.