Climate + Weather

The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is the condition of the atmosphere over a short period of time. Climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time (NASA).

Climate change is becoming the defining challenge for the 21st century. Leading scientists worldwide have concluded that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are destabilizing long-term climate patterns. There is urgent need to both reduce emissions and develop strategies to adapt to the rapidly changing climate.

Using predictive models on how the weather will change in the next 100 years, provides important adaptation recommendations to protect our communities and our ecosystems. Napa County is developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to layout out community strategies to reduce emissions from local residents, agriculture, and industries.  Adaptation strategies include projects like reducing water used in homes and on farms, making urban areas more sponge-like to soak in rain and prevent flooding, and protecting native habitat corridors for species to migrate.