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Cirrus clouds like this usually indicate mild weather conditions. When cirrus clouds are present, temperature and pressure is generally stable and there is little to no wind.

“Climate” refers to the average weather over time in a particular region. Weather can change hour to hour, but climate change may take hundreds or even thousands of years. For example, the Sahara Desert that we know today is a dry, sandy desert—the largest desert in the world—located in northern Africa. Thousands of years ago, the Sahara had frequent rain and was lush and green—very different from today. Both weather and climate can change. Weather changes rapidly, perhaps even from one day to the next, but climate change can take hundreds or even thousands of years to take effect.

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The New Weather: What is Weather?