Question 1

What is weather?

Accepted Answer

Weather is what it's like outside right now. It includes things like rain, snow, sunshine, wind, and temperature.

Question 2

What is climate?

Accepted Answer

Climate is the usual weather a place has over many years. It tells us what the weather is like most of the time.

Question 3

Why does it rain?

Accepted Answer

Rain happens when clouds get so full of water that they can't hold anymore. Then, the water falls down as raindrops.

Question 4

How do clouds form?

Accepted Answer

Clouds form when water vapor in the air cools down and turns into tiny water droplets. These droplets come together to make a cloud.

Question 5

What causes wind?

Accepted Answer

Wind is caused by air moving from one place to another. It happens because the sun heats the Earth unevenly, so some places are warmer than others.

Question 6

Why is the sky blue?

Accepted Answer

The sky looks blue because of the way sunlight interacts with the Earth's atmosphere. The blue light gets scattered in all directions, making the sky look blue to us.

Question 7

What is a hurricane?

Accepted Answer

A hurricane is a big storm with strong winds and lots of rain. It forms over warm ocean waters and can cause lots of damage when it hits land.

Question 8

What is a tornado?

Accepted Answer

A tornado is a spinning column of air that comes down from a thunderstorm. It can cause lots of damage because of its very strong winds.

Question 9

Why do we have seasons?

Accepted Answer

We have seasons because the Earth is tilted as it travels around the sun. This tilt makes different parts of the Earth get more or less sunlight during the year.

Question 10

What is global warming?

Accepted Answer

Global warming is when the Earth's average temperature gets warmer over time. It's caused by certain gases in the air trapping more heat from the sun.

Question 11

What is a blizzard?

Accepted Answer

A blizzard is a big snowstorm with very strong winds. It makes it hard to see because there's so much snow blowing around.

Question 12

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

Accepted Answer

Leaves change color in the fall because trees are getting ready for winter. They stop making the green stuff called chlorophyll, and other colors start to show.

Question 13

How does a rainbow form?

Accepted Answer

A rainbow forms when sunlight shines through raindrops. The light bends and separates into different colors, creating a rainbow.

Question 14

What is fog?

Accepted Answer

Fog is like a cloud that's really close to the ground. It's made of tiny water droplets in the air, making it hard to see far.

Question 15

Why does it snow?

Accepted Answer

Snow forms when it's really cold and water in the clouds freezes into tiny ice crystals. These crystals stick together to form snowflakes.

Question 16

What is an earthquake?

Accepted Answer

An earthquake is not about weather, but it's when the ground shakes because of movements inside the Earth. It can happen anywhere, even under the sea.

Question 17

How is a weather forecast made?

Accepted Answer

Weather forecasts are made by scientists who use computers to study data from satellites and weather stations. They make guesses about what the weather will be like in the future.

Question 18

Why do we hear thunder after we see lightning?

Accepted Answer

We hear thunder after lightning because light travels faster than sound. The lightning and thunder happen at the same time, but the sound takes longer to reach us.

Question 19

What is a flood?

Accepted Answer

A flood is when there's too much water on the land, usually from lots of rain. This can happen near rivers, lakes, or even in towns and cities.

Question 20

What role does the Sun play in weather?

Accepted Answer

The Sun is very important for weather because it provides the energy that warms the Earth. This warmth causes air and water to move around, creating different weather patterns.

The Science of Weather and Climate - 20 FAQs Explained Simply