What is NOT a characteristic of weather?

The correct response identifies long-term trends as not being a characteristic of weather. Weather refers specifically to the short-term atmospheric conditions in a particular area at a specific time. It includes immediate factors such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed, which describe what is happening in the atmosphere on a daily or hourly basis.

Conversely, long-term trends pertain to climate rather than weather. Climate encompasses the average conditions and patterns of weather over extended periods, typically years or decades, and considers variations and fluctuations within those time frames. Thus, recognizing that weather and climate are distinct, with weather focusing on short-term phenomena, helps clarify why long-term trends do not belong in the category of weather characteristics.