About Climate Change
“...And the high temperature today will be 25° Celsius, well above our average high for this time of year...”
We often hear weather forecasters talk about the “average” temperature or precipitation. They are referring to temperature averages formed over many years of weather observations. By watching temperatures, measuring rainfall and snowfall, cloud cover, amount of sunshine and other weather variables, experts can present a picture of “averages.” This overall picture leads to defining the climate for a given area.
In other words, climate is what we can expect, and weather is what we get.
Climate change occurs when that average weather shifts over the long term in a specific location, a region or the entire planet. The shift is measured by changes in some or all of the features associated with average weather, such as temperature, wind patterns and precipitation.
Climate change can show itself in less rainfall for a long period of time, more extreme weather events, changes in wind patterns, and more frequent and prolonged heat waves or cold snaps.
