Weather vs Climate Worksheet

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📘 Reading: Principles of Weather and Climate

Weather describes the short-term conditions of the atmosphere at a particular place and time. Examples include temperature, rainfall, wind and humidity measured today or over a few days. Weather can change minute-to-minute or day-to-day. For example, a cold front can bring thunderstorms and a sudden drop in temperature.

Climate describes the long-term average of weather patterns in a region, usually calculated over at least 30 years. Climate tells us what conditions to expect in a season or year—such as whether a region is typically wet or dry, hot or cool. Climate is shaped by factors such as latitude, ocean currents, elevation and prevailing winds.

Understanding both helps people make decisions: weather forecasts guide daily activities and emergency responses, while climate information helps plan agriculture, water supply and infrastructure for the long term.

Picture examples (placeholders):

Weather example — a severe thunderstorm this afternoon in Melbourne: [IMAGE PLACEHOLDER]

Climate example — the long-term dry summer pattern of Adelaide (typical seasonal averages): [IMAGE PLACEHOLDER]

✏️ Questions about the reading

1. Which statement best describes the main difference between weather and climate?

Weather is long-term; climate is what you feel today.

Weather is short-term conditions; climate is long-term averages (about 30 years).

Weather and climate are the same but measured in different units.

2. Which of the following is an example of a weather observation?

12 °C and raining right now in Hobart

Average annual rainfall in Perth over the past 30 years

Typical summer temperature for a decade in Darwin

3. Fill in the blank: Climate is usually described using averages over at least _________ years.

_________

4. Match each example (left) with whether it is mainly a Weather example or a Climate example (right).

A. A thunderstorm this afternoon in Brisbane

B. Average July temperature in Canberra calculated over 30 years

C. A week-long heatwave in southern NSW

D. Roof damage from last night's hailstorm

1. Climate

2. Weather

3. Weather

4. Weather

5. In two sentences, explain why both weather forecasts and climate information are useful when planning for agriculture or emergency services in Australia.