Linking to Climate and Weather
Explain to the students that weather describes their surroundings for
a short time. Their journals will serve as an excellent record of weather
conditions for a given interval of time. Climate, on the other hand, describes
a more established pattern of weather conditions. Climate is the long-term
average of weather. It is observed over many years and many seasons. The
two most important factors in describing the climate of an area are temperature
and precipitation.
Climates differ for various locations on Earth. The differences are often
related to the proximity to the equator or to the poles, the nearness
to oceans and related currents, the position of mountain ranges, and the
prevailing wind patterns.
Older students might report on climate patterns for selected locales.
A Web search for a country's tourist information generally supplies annual
climate statistics for assisting potential travelers in their planning.
Related images give clues to the kind of vegetation and animal life in
the region.
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