IB ESS HL 2.4.1 Climate and Weather Question Bank
Distinguish short-term weather from long-term climate patterns using environmental evidence.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS HL
- Level
- HL
Distinguish short-term weather from long-term climate patterns using environmental evidence.

Figure:Mountain zones and climate in the Swiss Alps
With reference to Figure: Mountain zones and climate in the Swiss Alps, distinguish between the climates of Montana and Zermatt.
a. Zermatt is wettest in the summer months of May, June, July and August / peak precipitation in Zermatt is in May / total precipitation per year in Zermatt is 590 mm/ maximum precipitation in Zermatt is 70 mm ;
b. Montana is wet all year / peak precipitation in Montana is in December / total precipitation per year in Montana is 830 mm/ maximum precipitation in Montana is about 99 mm ;
c. Montana is wetter than/has more precipitation (than Zermatt) / Zermatt has less precipitation/is drier(than Montana);
d. Temperatures range from approximately −1/−2∘C to 16/17∘C in Montana / highest mean monthly temperature is 16∘C in Montana;
e. Temperatures range from approximately −3/−4∘C to 14∘C in Zermatt / highest mean monthly temperature is 14∘C in Zermatt;
f. Temperatures are colder in Zermatt (than in Montana) / Montana is warmer (than Zermatt);
Note to examiners: reserve one mark for Montana and one mark for Zermatt. While comparison terms are encouraged, they are not mandatory for this question.