Weather versus climate at a glance

The difference between weather and climate is a matter of time. Weather refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere. It can change minute-to-minute, hour-to-hour and day-to-day. Climate describes the average weather conditions in a specific area over a long period of time – 30 years or more. Satellites measure several aspects of Earth's weather as well as provide essential data over decades to monitor how our climate is changing.