| Before we can look into common weather | | | | atmospheric conditions. This is easily seen in warm |
| patterns, it is important to first define some | | | | regions where summers are consistently warm |
| terms. In many cases, people may confuse | | | | for several months. |
| climate with weather. In simple terms, climate is | | | | Weather patterns are also important tools for |
| the general average atmospheric conditions in a | | | | yearly forecasts. One can reasonably assume that |
| certain region for a long period of time which is | | | | the weather in one particular month or season will |
| most commonly placed at about more or less 3 | | | | be relatively the same in the same month or |
| decades. Hence, the climate of a place remains | | | | season in the following year. You will notice this by |
| relatively unchanged for years. | | | | taking note of particular days and comparing |
| A place's climate however does not imply that | | | | them to the same days in the following year. This |
| one region will be warm, cold, stormy or calm | | | | is basic layman's forecasting for you and is |
| everyday for thirty years. There can be brief | | | | especially useful if you want to plan certain events |
| changes in atmospheric conditions in every region. | | | | or occasions like trips or weddings. |
| This is what is known as the weather. When | | | | Knowledge of common weather patterns is |
| these brief changes are over, the atmosphere | | | | therefore supposed to be very useful. As some |
| returns to more or less its average conditions. | | | | of us may have recently noticed though, weather |
| Common weather patterns are directly related to | | | | patterns are not always what they used to be. All |
| climate. Some experts define climate as the | | | | of a sudden, we experience extreme warmth or |
| general average weather pattern for a particular | | | | destructive hurricanes with little warning. Two |
| location. In other words a long term weather | | | | types of unpredictable extreme weather |
| pattern can sometimes be understood as climate. | | | | conditions are known as El Nino and La Nina. |
| Weather patterns can also be understood as the | | | | In El Nino, Pacific Ocean waters get warmer and |
| manner in which various types of weather are | | | | can lead to high temperatures and rain. In La Nina, |
| spread or distributed across the planet. | | | | Pacific Ocean waters get colder. Depending on |
| Weather patterns are important in forecasting. | | | | where you live, La Nina can lead to warmer or |
| Sometimes, one is able to predict what the next | | | | colder weather and dry conditions. |
| day's weather will be based on the concept of | | | | A number of climate and weather experts blame |
| persistence. Today's weather may repeat or | | | | the changes in atmospheric conditions to global |
| persist until the following day. This is especially | | | | warming. Human greenhouse gas emissions may |
| true in regions where the common weather | | | | be the reason for our current inability to |
| patterns are usually consistent or unchanging | | | | accurately predict weather patterns. |