What do we call the average weather conditions in a specific area over a long time?

The concept of average weather conditions in a specific area over a long period is referred to as climate. Climate encompasses the long-term patterns and trends in temperature, humidity, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions that characterize a region. This is distinct from weather, which describes the short-term conditions in the atmosphere.

Climate is determined by analyzing data collected over many years, allowing scientists to identify trends and variations in an area's atmospheric behavior. This information is essential for understanding the natural environment, predicting weather trends, and addressing changes caused by phenomena such as global warming.

The other terms provided are related but do not define this concept accurately. Weather patterns refer to the observable variations in weather over shorter time frames, meteorology is the science of studying and forecasting weather, and environment encompasses broader aspects that include both living and non-living elements in a particular area, not solely weather conditions.