First of all , the students need to teach the difference between climate change and weather which refer to different aspects of atmospheric conditions, though they are often interconnected. Here’s a breakdown of their differences:
Definition:
Weather: Refers to the short-term conditions of the atmosphere at a specific place and time. It includes elements such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility. Weather can change from minute to minute, hour to hour, or day to day.
Climate Change: This describes long-term changes in the Earth's climate, specifically alterations in temperature, precipitation patterns, and other climate metrics over extended periods (typically decades to centuries). Climate change involves trends and shifts in the average weather conditions over a long timeframe.
Timescale:
Weather: Short-term (minutes to days).
Climate Change: Long-term (decades to centuries).
Scope:
Weather: Local or regional, specific to a particular area at a given time.
Climate Change: Global or regional, observed over large areas and extended periods.
Predictability:
Weather: Generally predictable in the short term using weather forecasts.
Climate Change: Predictable over long periods based on scientific models and data, though there is some inherent uncertainty in long-term predictions.
Impacts:
Weather: Affects daily activities and short-term conditions (e.g., whether to carry an umbrella).
Climate Change: Has broad, long-term impacts such as sea-level rise, changes in biodiversity, and shifts in weather patterns that can affect agriculture, ecosystems, and human societies on a global scale.
In summary, weather is what we experience day-to-day, while climate change refers to the longer-term shifts in atmospheric patterns that can influence the general trends in weather over time