Weather and Climate — Revision notes

Weather

The short-term, day-to-day condition of the atmosphere (such as whether it is sunny, rainy, or windy) that can change from hour to hour

Climate

The average weather conditions of a place taken over a long period of time, usually 30 years or more

Precipitation

Any type of moisture that falls from the sky, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail

Temperate maritime climate

A climate type characterized by moderate temperatures without extreme heat or cold, and precipitation occurring throughout the year (such as in the UK)

Axis tilt

The angle at which the Earth is tilted as it orbits the sun, which is the direct cause of the seasons

Climate graph

A visual chart that displays two sets of data at once—temperature (using a red line and the left y-axis) and precipitation (using blue bars and the right y-axis) for each month of the year

Northern Hemisphere

The half of the Earth north of the Equator, where the UK is located, and which experiences summer when tilted toward the sun

Southern Hemisphere

The half of the Earth south of the Equator, where seasonal months are completely opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere

What this lesson covers

How well do you know each one? Be honest: red means go back over it.

• Explain the difference between weather and climate and give an example of eachNot yetSort ofGot it
• Describe the UK's temperate maritime climate and what makes it that wayNot yetSort ofGot it
• Explain how the tilt of the Earth causes the seasonsNot yetSort ofGot it
• Read and interpret a climate graphNot yetSort ofGot it
• Compare the climates of two places using climate dataNot yetSort ofGot it
• Explain why the seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphereNot yetSort ofGot it

Test yourself

Cover the answer, say it out loud, then check the full quiz on the lesson page.

• True or false — is climate the same as weather?
• Which axis do you use to read temperature on a climate graph?
• Why are the warmest months in the UK and Argentina at opposite times of year?

Topic quiz

12 questions on this topic only — not mixed with anything else, one at a time.

Spelling challenge

Read the definition, then type the correct spelling of the term. Uses the same terms as above.