Weather is a description of what the atmosphere is like at a particular time and place. The weather can change from day to day, hour to hour, and from season to season.

Climate is a description of what the weather is usually like in a region. Temperature and precipitation are the major factors that determine climate. Climates are changing because our Earth is warming, according to research of scientists.

A microclimate is the climate of a very small area. East Tennessee could be classified into three different microclimates. MountainsValleyPlateau CoolerWarmerCooler

The United States has many different climates. –Polar Climate - *Northern Alaska –Tropical Climate -*Hawaii and parts of Florida –Temperate Climate - *Most of the U.S. (With big differences in temperature and precipitation) –Temperature differences are determined by latitude, or the distance from the equator.

The coast of northern Maine is covered with snow in the winter. The average temperature is in the 20s. On the coast of North Carolina, winter temperatures may reach the 40s or 50s. In Florida the average daily temperature in the winter is in the 60s or 70s.