Final answer:
Chaos theory describes the inherent unpredictability of weather patterns over extended periods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scientific concept that describes the inherent unpredictability of weather patterns over extended periods is Chaos theory.
Chaos theory is the field that studies systems whose outcomes are extremely sensitive to initial conditions, making their long-term behavior impossible to predict with precision. The behavior of weather patterns is an example of a chaotic system, as small changes in initial conditions can lead to significant differences in weather outcomes over time.
For instance, the butterfly effect is a popular example in chaos theory, which suggests that the flapping of a butterfly's wings in one part of the world can potentially cause a hurricane in another part of the world.