Visitor Center Landscape De Liereman

What was the weather like yesterday? And what did you think of the weather in the past days? How was the weather during the Easter holiday? What will the weather be like tomorrow? What do you think we can expect?

What about 'climate' now? And what is the difference between weather and climate? Does anyone have an idea of what the difference is between weather and climate?

The climate is the average weather in a specific area over a longer period (at least 30 years). It concerns the average temperature in different seasons, the precipitation, and hours of sunshine. A description of the extremes is also part of the description of a climate. The Earth can be divided into climate zones or climate belts.

The weather at one moment says nothing about the climate; climate is the sum of a long period. Usually, a period of at least 30 years is examined (standard according to the World Meteorological Organization). A 30-year period contains a large part of the natural variation between years (but not everything). The 'current' climate, for example, is expressed as the climate of 1990, which is determined based on the period between 1976 and 2005.

Our weather is not necessarily a reflection of that in the entire northern hemisphere. For example, the winters of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 were slightly colder than normal for us, while in Greenland it was 10°C to 15°C warmer than normal, leading to accelerated melting of the ice sheet.

The climate can change or fluctuate under the influence of natural causes (changes in solar activity, ice ages, volcanic eruptions, etc.). But it is becoming clear that human actions can also have an influence.

There are theories (not yet proven) that suggest that weather is becoming more stubborn due to climate change. The jet stream is said to be wavier and the waves would stay in the same place longer, resulting in weather patterns lasting longer. The first five months of 2013 were characterized by a jet stream that dipped deeply, allowing polar air to penetrate into North Africa. This caused it to be too cold for several months in a row.

Natuuracademie