January 22, 2011

Climate vs Weather

La Nina/El Nino is a climate prediction.   A climate prediction is a big picture look at an entire season/year or series of years. A weather forecast attempt to predict what existing weather will do on a daily basis. How it will travel, how it gains or losses energy as it moves along.   Yes, La Nina influences general weather patterns that will have a effect on a seasonal climate - such as cooler and wetter in the PNW.  But it does not take responsibility for individual storm cycles or rain/snow events. 

Also when La Nina predictions talk about the PNW they mean from southern Alaska to Southern Oregon.  Stevens Pass is a small area that may or may not get the goods in any given weather event. (case in point so far this year)

Text book definitions:
Climate = the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years

Weather = the current state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc.

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