What is the definition of climate?

The definition of climate refers to the long-term weather patterns in an area. This concept encompasses the average conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind, over extended periods, typically 30 years or more. Understanding climate helps us recognize what weather conditions can be expected in a specific region over time, influencing factors like agriculture, ecosystems, and urban planning.

Daily weather variations represent short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area, which is quite different from climate. While temperature measurements provide data regarding the current or past thermal conditions, they do not encapsulate the broader, more complex concept of climate. Extreme weather events, although part of climate study, do not define climate themselves. Rather, they are phenomena that may occur as part of the climate system but do not reflect the long-term patterns that define climate.