Which term describes the long-term weather patterns in a region?

The term that describes the long-term weather patterns in a region is climate. Climate refers to the average conditions of temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and other atmospheric elements in a particular area over an extended period, typically 30 years or more. It encompasses seasonal variations and helps define the overall characteristics of an area, such as whether it is arid, temperate, tropical, or polar.

In contrast, weather refers to the short-term state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, which can change rapidly from day to day. The environment encompasses all living and non-living things in an area, including the biotic and abiotic factors, but does not specifically refer to weather patterns. Seasonality describes the predictable changes in weather and environmental conditions that occur at different times of the year but is not synonymous with the long-term averages that define climate.