The day-to-day condition of the atmosphere at a place with respect to the temperature, humidity, rainfall, windspeed, etc., is called the weather at that place.
The daily weather report carries information about the temperature, humidity and rainfall during the past 24 hours. It also predicts the weather for the day. Humidity, as you might know, is a measure of the moisture in air.
The weather reports are prepared by the Meteorological Department of the Government. This department collects data on temperature, wind, etc., and makes the weather prediction.
The temperature, humidity, and other factors are called the elements of the weather. The weather of a place changes day after day and week after week.
The weather is such a complex phenomenon that it can vary over very short periods of time. It can happen sometimes that it is sunny in the morning, but suddenly clouds appear from nowhere and it starts raining heavily.
The maximum temperature of the day occurs generally in the afternoon while the minimum temperature occurs generally in the early morning.
The average weather pattern taken over a long time, say 25 years, is called the climate of the place.
If there is also heavy rainfall on most of the days in the same place, then we can say that the climate of that place is hot and wet.
The Climate has a profound effect on all living organisms.
Animals are adapted to survive in the conditions in which they live. They can living in very cold and hot climate.
The polar regions
The polar regions present an extreme climate. These regions are covered with snow and it is very cold for most part of the year. For six months the sun does not set at the poles while for the other six months the sun does not rise.
Physical activities on warm days necessitate cooling. So, the polar bear goes for swimming. It is a good swimmer.
Like polar bears, penguins are also good swimmers. Their bodies are streamlined and their feet have webs, making them good swimmers
The tropical rainforests
The tropical region has generally a hot climate because of its location around the equator. Even in the coldest month the temperature is generally higher than about 15°C. During hot summers, the temperature may cross 40°C. Days and nights are almost equal in length throughout the year.
Many tropical animals have sensitive hearing, sharp eyesight, thick skin and a skin colour which helps them to camouflage by blending with the surroundings.