Final answer:
The difference between weather and climate is that weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate describes the long-term, predictable patterns. Weather changes constantly, whereas climate is what we generally expect based on the historical data over many years.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question of how to differentiate between weather and climate is: a) Weather is short-term, climate is long-term. Climate refers to the long-term, predictable atmospheric conditions of a specific area, often described in terms of temperature and moisture, representing what we expect based on historical patterns.
In contrast, weather concerns the short-term conditions of the atmosphere which can be forecasted, typically within 48-hour cycles, illustrating what we actually get. For example, climate information can guide us to plan an outdoor event during summer in Wisconsin, knowing that it generally offers better conditions compared to winter; however, the specific weather of a particular day cannot be guaranteed far in advance.