Weather vs. climate. Lake vs. pond. With these simple tricks, you'll always know the difference between these nature words.
Weather and climate: What's the difference?
Weather—a combination of atmospheric events that determine temperature, precipitation, and humidity—can be tracked daily. Weather is specific from region to region. Climate, on the other hand, is a much more wide-ranging system that is tracked over long periods of time. In other words, climate is a long-term trend, and weather is the variation around this trend
Canyon and gorge: What's the difference?
Both are deep ravines with a stream or a river cutting through the bottom—but canyons have wider, sloping walls, whereas gorges are much narrower and steeper. But don’t go by the geographic names of these features. For example, the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and Washington is actually a canyon.
Island and continent: What's the difference?
Continents are big, and islands are small, right? Well, yes, but there’s an even bigger difference. A continent is a landmass composed of low-density rock that “floats” on top of the Earth’s mantle—it is bordered by tectonic plates and has mountain ranges and a plethora of cultures. Oceanic islands are landmasses composed of heavier rock that have risen partially above sea level. That’s why Greenland is the world’s largest island, not Australia, which is technically a continent.
Lake and pond: What's the difference?
Many small “lakes” could just as easily be called a pond, and the famed Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts, is actually a lake. The main distinction: A pond is shallow enough that light penetrates all the way to the bottom. Although there is no set size for either, most geographers agree that when a body of fresh water is bigger than 12 acres, it’s a lake. Smaller than that, it’s a pond.
Elevation and altitude: What's the difference?
If you’re hiking up a mountain and brag on Facebook that you’re “at an altitude of 6,000 feet!”—first, put your device away and enjoy the outdoors. Second, altitude is used to describe a point above sea level in the air, which is why pilots say altitude. (Here are secrets pilots won't tell you). Elevation is a point above sea level on land.
Weather and climate: What's the difference?
Weather—a combination of atmospheric events that determine temperature, precipitation, and humidity—can be tracked daily. Weather is specific from region to region. Climate, on the other hand, is a much more wide-ranging system that is tracked over long periods of time. In other words, climate is a long-term trend, and weather is the variation around this trend
Canyon and gorge: What's the difference?
Both are deep ravines with a stream or a river cutting through the bottom—but canyons have wider, sloping walls, whereas gorges are much narrower and steeper. But don’t go by the geographic names of these features. For example, the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and Washington is actually a canyon.
Island and continent: What's the difference?
Continents are big, and islands are small, right? Well, yes, but there’s an even bigger difference. A continent is a landmass composed of low-density rock that “floats” on top of the Earth’s mantle—it is bordered by tectonic plates and has mountain ranges and a plethora of cultures. Oceanic islands are landmasses composed of heavier rock that have risen partially above sea level. That’s why Greenland is the world’s largest island, not Australia, which is technically a continent.
Lake and pond: What's the difference?
Many small “lakes” could just as easily be called a pond, and the famed Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts, is actually a lake. The main distinction: A pond is shallow enough that light penetrates all the way to the bottom. Although there is no set size for either, most geographers agree that when a body of fresh water is bigger than 12 acres, it’s a lake. Smaller than that, it’s a pond.
Elevation and altitude: What's the difference?
If you’re hiking up a mountain and brag on Facebook that you’re “at an altitude of 6,000 feet!”—first, put your device away and enjoy the outdoors. Second, altitude is used to describe a point above sea level in the air, which is why pilots say altitude. (Here are secrets pilots won't tell you). Elevation is a point above sea level on land.