Which term refers to the study of weather and climate?

The term that refers to the study of weather and climate is meteorology. Meteorology encompasses the science of the atmosphere, focusing specifically on understanding and predicting weather patterns, atmospheric phenomena, and the short-term variations in climate. Meteorologists investigate various elements such as temperature, humidity, wind, and atmospheric pressure to explain current weather conditions and forecast future weather events.

While climatology, another valid field related to weather and climate, deals more with long-term climate patterns and trends over extended periods, meteorology is specifically concerned with short-term weather phenomena. Geology refers to the study of the solid Earth, its rocks, and the processes that shape it, while oceanography focuses on the study of the oceans and their components. Thus, meteorology is the correct term for the study of weather and climate, highlighting its focus on immediate atmospheric conditions and trends.