What is the difference between climate and weather

Weather and climate are closely related, changes in weather over a long period of time constitute climate change. They can be confusing to a novice.

Weather is specific		Climate is average and general.
Weather (rain or shine) occurs at a specific time		Climate over longer periods of time.
It refers to current activity		It refers to average atmospheric conditions over longer periods of time.
Weather is specific climate		Climate is defined as an average weather
Meteorologists record the weather every day.		The constant recording of weather information determines the climate.
Weather is what you get.		Climate is what you expect

If summers seem hotter lately, then the recent climate may have changed. In various parts of the world, some people have even noticed that springtime comes earlier now than it did 30 years ago. An earlier springtime is indicative of a possible change in the climate.

A snow flurry is weather. Thunder and lightning are weather, too. Sometimes the atmosphere behaves violently, and sometimes it's peaceful and quiet. Either way, it's weather.

We use to cite the analogy 'as unpredictable as the weather......' due to the chaotic nature of weather. While it is difficult to predict weather changes over just a few days span, it is easier to project and forecast climate changes.

Day-to-day Weather Forecasts:
TV channel/mass media giving you the forecast on weather for everyday of the week for your social planning.

The climate system is a complex and interactive system comprising of internal dynamics and external factors.

The internal dynamics evolves around

the atmosphere, the land, snow, icebergs, oceans, rivers, lakes;
living things, like human activities and vegetations;

The external factors include

the Solar radiations,
volcanic eruptions,
human activities that changes the Earth's atmospheric composition

Besides the above mentioned factors, a dominant factor being activities arising from mankind. This change in climate due to mankind activities arise due to

increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,
increase in small particles (aerosols)
changes in land use

References and related posts:

IPCC - AR4
Nasa.gov

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