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The Sun is the key driving force of weather and climate. Which of the following is true regarding how weather and climate compare? *

Weather refers to conditions nearer to the ground; climate refers to conditions in the atmosphere.
Climate refers to conditions over long periods of time; weather refers to conditions over short periods of time.
Weather refers to conditions in the atmosphere; climate refers to conditions nearer to the ground.
Climate refers to conditions over short periods of time; weather refers to conditions over long periods of time.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Climate represents long-term atmospheric conditions, while weather describes short-term changes in the atmosphere. Climate is like the typical weather patterns over years, whereas weather involves immediate atmospheric conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The key difference between weather and climate is the time scale over which they are measured. Climate refers to the conditions over long periods of time, typically decades or centuries, and is considered the average weather or the typical weather patterns of a region. Weather, on the other hand, refers to the atmospheric conditions during a short period of time, such as hours or days, and is often what is forecasted on a daily or 48-hour cycle. This is captured in the saying, 'Climate is what you expect, and weather is what you get.'

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