Climate Change
Climate encompasses all meteorological elements in a given region over a long time period. This includes the temporal patterns of temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity, and numerous other elements. In contrast, weather refers only the current characteristics of these elements.
Definition of climate change
(according to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report)
"Climate change [...] refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties,
and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. It refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. [...]"
