Weather and Climate

If a person is describing the daily changes in temperature and precipitation, they are referring to an area's ________.

• weather

• climate

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which of the following sets of data best represents weather information, but NOT climate?

• Average daily rainfall for the Dallas area in the last month

• Average yearly temperatures for the Dallas area in the 1990's

• Monthly air pressure averages for the Dallas area since 1974

• Monthly humidity averages for the Dallas area in the last 4 decades

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

A student read a brochure about the Piney Woods of Texas and learned the average annual rainfall is 40-52 inches (100-150 cm) each year and the humidity is typically high. The information the student read is called

• a weather forecast

• local erosion factors

• regional climate data

• last year's weather data

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The following statements are about conditions in Texas cities. Which statement shows information about climate?

• San Angelo's record rainfall was 10.16 cm (4 in) on January 23, 1973

• In 1930, Dallas reported an extreme low temperature on -3 degrees

• Austin has an average of only 1.5 cm of annual snowfall each year

• Lubbock has recorded a wind gust of 144.84 kph

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Each winter since 1980, a family measures the snowfall in their year and records the yearly average. This average is most common when describing what feature of the area?

• Weather

• Climate

• Water cycle

• Erosion patterns

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which statement best describes the weather?

• The temperature is increasing as the cloud cover decreases

• Wind speeds are greatest during the spring

• Since 1970, yearly rainfall averages are lower than usual

• Flash flooding has increased in many areas during the last few decades

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

What is one difference between weather and climate?

• Weather describes conditions near the ground, but climate does not

• Climate describes energy from the Sun, but weather does not

• Weather includes precipitation, but climate does not

• Climate describes long-term conditions over an entire region, but weather does not

Which table correctly classifies statements about weather and climate?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Some scientists measured and recorded local rainfall amounts and water levels at several local lakes over the summer. They compared their measurements with data from the past 30 years. The scientists concluded that the area was drier this summer than in previous years. They plan to continue recording these measurements each summer for the next decade. What characteristics of the area are the scientists studying?

• Climate, because they are making more than one type of measurement

• Climate, because they are comparing rainfall amounts over a long period of time

• Weather, because they are tracking changes only to their local environment

• Weather, because they expect rainfall amounts and water levels to continue to decrease

Each school year for 30 years, the amount of rain that fell at a school was measured and recorded. Tracking rainfall over a long period provides the most information about which characteristics of an area?

• Climate

• Temperature of one day

• Weather

• Type of soil

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6