Final answer:
Changes in atmospheric conditions observed from minute-to-minute or day-to-day represent weather changes. Climate change refers to long-term alterations in average weather patterns that last for several decades. The difference between the two is the duration over which the changes occur and the consistency of the patterns observed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Changes from minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour, and day-to-day refer to weather changes, not climate change. Weather is the short-term state of the atmosphere, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility. In contrast, climate change refers to long-term changes in the average weather conditions, such as significant changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns, that last for several decades or longer.
To distinguish true climate change from random variations in weather, we must examine changes over long periods, typically over several decades, to see if there is a consistent trend or significant alteration in climate patterns. Evidence of climate change in a specific area over the past century can include more frequent and intense weather events, shifting rainfall patterns, and changes in temperature averages and extremes.