Question

Which of the following statements is/are true?

1. Weather refers to the sum total of atmospheric conditions and variations over a large area for a long period of time.
2. Climate refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at a given point in time.

[1 mark]

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 only
• C. Both 1 and 2
• D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer 1

The correct option is D Neither 1 nor 2

The term weather refers to the state of the atmosphere over an area at a given point in time. And since atmospheric conditions keep changing, the weather changes too. Sometimes in a matter of minutes! This makes it very difficult to track the weather.

Climate refers to the sum total of weather conditions and variations over a large area for a long period of time. Generally, the time period considered is more than 30 years! Unlike weather, the climate of a place doesn’t change over short periods of time. The climate of a given place is a result of the combined effect of many factors like temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity and precipitation.