WORLD GEOGRAPHY 3202 / 3200 / 3260 3202 / 3200 / 3260
Climate GraphsClimate Graphs
Mr. Oliver H. PenneyMr. Oliver H. Penney
How to draw a climate graphHow to draw a climate graph
By the end of today’s lesson you should:By the end of today’s lesson you should:
know how to draw a climate graph.know how to draw a climate graph. be able to read a climate table and graph. be able to read a climate table and graph.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average monthly Rainfall (mm)
56 41 46 46 48 53 51 66 51 51 53 53
Average monthly Temperature (°C)
3 3 6 7 11 14 16 16 13 10 6 4
The average temperature in March is 6°C
The average rainfall in September is 51 mm
How would you calculate the total annual rainfall?
How would you calculate the average annual temperature?
How would you calculate the temperature range?
The table below shows the climate data for Leeds.
Climate GraphsClimate Graphs
Each climate graph is made up of 2 Each climate graph is made up of 2 major parts.major parts.–A line graph for A line graph for temperaturetemperature..
Always represented by a Always represented by a red linered line..
–A bar graph for A bar graph for precipitationprecipitation..Always represented by Always represented by blue barsblue bars..
Climate GraphsClimate Graphs
Line Graphs.Line Graphs.– Temperature is easier seen with a line graph Temperature is easier seen with a line graph
than by statistics.than by statistics.– The horizontal axis is used to show the time The horizontal axis is used to show the time
period (months), and the vertical axis is used to period (months), and the vertical axis is used to show the temperature (degrees Celsius).show the temperature (degrees Celsius).
– The first step is finding the average temperature The first step is finding the average temperature for each month and then plotting it on the graph.for each month and then plotting it on the graph.
– Once you have done this you can connect the Once you have done this you can connect the dots with a flowing line.dots with a flowing line. You should not see the dots when you are finished.You should not see the dots when you are finished.
Climate GraphsClimate Graphs Bar Graphs.Bar Graphs.
– They are similar to a line graph and easy They are similar to a line graph and easy to interpret.to interpret.
– The horizontal axis shows the time period The horizontal axis shows the time period (months), and the vertical axis shows the (months), and the vertical axis shows the precipitation quantities (mm).precipitation quantities (mm).
– Bars are joined together to show a Bars are joined together to show a continuity from one month to the next.continuity from one month to the next.
– You need to have the average You need to have the average precipitation for each month to construct precipitation for each month to construct the bar graph.the bar graph.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average monthly Rainfall (mm)
56 41 46 46 48 53 51 66 51 51 53 53
Average monthly Temperature (°C)
3 3 6 7 11 14 16 16 13 10 6 4
But how do you represent the data above in the form of a graph?
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The red line is the
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Climate GraphsClimate Graphs
It is when the temperature line graph and precipitation bar It is when the temperature line graph and precipitation bar graph are put together that you get a climate graph.graph are put together that you get a climate graph.
From a climate graph you can determine:From a climate graph you can determine:– Temperature and temperature ranges for a particular place.Temperature and temperature ranges for a particular place.– Rainfall and the seasonal distributions of rain.Rainfall and the seasonal distributions of rain.– Approximate latitude and elevation.Approximate latitude and elevation.– Northern or southern hemisphere.Northern or southern hemisphere.
You can identify climate types by carefully looking at the You can identify climate types by carefully looking at the temperatures, the temperature range, the rainfall amount temperatures, the temperature range, the rainfall amount and the pattern of rainfall.and the pattern of rainfall.
Climate GraphsClimate Graphs
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Once you have drawn a climate graph you need to be able to interpret (read) the graph.
The maximum rainfall is 66 mm and the minimum is 41 mm – a range of 25 mm.
The driest month is February when an average of 41 mm of rain falls.
The wettest month is August when an average of 66 mm of rain falls
The maximum temperature is 16°C and the minimum is 3°C – a range of 13°C.
The coldest months are January and February with an average monthly temperature of 3°C.
The temperature peaks in July and August with an average of 16°C.
Northern or Southern Hemisphere?Northern or Southern Hemisphere?
Latitude/Longitude = 49.1oN; 123.06oWAverage Annual Temperature (oC) = 9.8Annual Temperature Range (oC) =16Total Annual Precipitation (mm) =1048Summer Precipitation (mm) = 277Winter Precipitation (mm) = 771
Latitude/Longitude: 16.25oS N; 133.3oEAverage Annual Temperature (C) = 26.5o
Annual Temperature Range (C) = 10o
Total Annual Precipitation (mm) = 536.2Summer Precipitation (mm) =500Winter Precipitation (mm) = 36.2
Climate GraphsClimate Graphs
Climate Graphs Interactive Climate Map http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/l
utgens3/medialib/abcontrol/pages/question.html
http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/lutgens3/medialib/abcontrol/pages/question.html
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