Build a mind you’re proud of.
One cold day does not describe a climate
Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate describes long-term patterns.
The idea
Individual days vary around broader distributions. A trend requires observations over longer periods.
An example
A rainy holiday tells you about those days, not the destination's entire climate.
Put it into practice
Match the timescale of the evidence to the question.
Further reading: NOAA · NCEI ↗
Test yourself: Which evidence better describes climate?
Long-term temperature and rainfall patterns
Climate concerns long-term characteristics rather than one event.
Explanation and illustrative examples by One Card Wiser. Source linked for further reading.
Open this card in the app →