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Introduction

Although the two words are sometimes used interchangeably, there are important differences between weather and climate. For a brief overview of these differences, click here.

Weather's variability occurs quickly, in the period of hours and days, and while extremes between high and low temperatures or abrupt storms can occur on such small time scales, they are influenced by longer-term climatic forces.

Scientists are finding that even with as much information as they have gathered about current and past weather and climates, it is difficult to predict weather beyond an 11 to 14 day time horizon.

Weather and Climate Factors

Weather and climate are influenced by a variety of factors such as:

astronomical factors such as the tilt of the Earth's axis
planetary albedo (reflectivity of the planet surface and clouds)
fluctuations in solar energy (variation in energy output from the sun)
the climate character of a region
the time of year/season
the time of day
chemical composition of the atmosphere, both natural (for example changes due to volcanic activity) and anthropogenic (a fancy way of saying human) impacts such as heat from cities, agriculture practices, and the burning of fossil fuels.

There are many factors influencing climate variability and climate change. As an introduction to how future climate change will impact the Pacific Region and island states, we will briefly survey these factors.

Climate and Water Resource Case Study

Chapter 2 - Introduction: Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change

Chapter 2 Labs

Chapter 2 Self Checks

Course Reference Links

Introduction

Weather and Climate Factors