Climograph

1
Climograph

• A climograph is a graph that displays average
  (mean) precipitation and temperature for an area.
  It is used to compare the climate in different
  places.

2
Precipitation Patterns

• If you go to www.worldclimate.com, you can find
  average monthly precipitation for many places in
  a chart like this one for Orlando, Florida
• The trick to reading charts and graphs is finding
  a pattern.
• What patterns do you see in the average
  precipitation data for Orlando, Florida?
• Is there more precipitation in the summer months
  or the winter months?

3
Compare Patterns

• People construct climographs to compare climates
  in different places. Climographs convert lots of
  numerical data to a simple display of bars and
  lines. Because they are so simple, climographs
  make it easy to see patterns in climate and to
  compare the climates in different places.

4
Graphing Average Precipitation

• Label the y-axis (vertical) with the average
  precipitation levels in inches. This example
  uses intervals of 5 inches betweenmarkings.

• Label the x-axis (horizontal) with the months
  (Jan.-Dec.) and include a space for the yearly
  average precipitation at the end.

5
Graphing Average Precipitation

• For our example, the January average
  precipitation was 2.1 inches, so we drew a bar
  over January reaching the 2.1 level on the
  y-axis of the graph. Graph the precipitation
  data for the remaining months in the same way.
• Remember to always label your x and y axis when
  drawing a graph and add a title for the whole
  graph.

• Next, plot the average precipitation for January
  by drawing a bar over January reaching up to the
  amount of precipitation listed for that month.

6
Temperature Patterns

• www.worldclimate.com can also give you a chart
  on average temperature for many places. Here are
  the average monthly temperatures for Orlando,
  Florida
• Remember, the key to reading graphs is looking
  for a pattern!
• What patterns do you see in the average
  temperature data for Orlando, Florida?
• Is it hotter in the summer or in the winter
  months?

7
Graphing Average Temperature

• Label the y-axis (vertical) with the average
  temperature levels in degrees Fahrenheit. This
  example uses intervals of 20 degrees between
  markings.

• Label the x-axis (horizontal) with the months
  (Jan.-Dec.) and include a space for the yearly
  average temperature at the end.

8
Graphing Average Temperature

• Next, plot the average temperature for January by
  placing a dot over January at the average
  temperature for that month.
• For our example, the January average temper-ature
  was 59.9F, so we placed a dot over January at
  the 59.9 level on the y-axis of the graph.
  Graphing the remaining temperature data in the
  same way for each month and for the year.
• Remember to always label your x and y axis when
  drawing a graph and add a title for the whole
  graph.

• Finally, connect the dots! Draw a line
  from the dot for January and continue through the
  dot for December. Do not connect the dot for the
  yearly average.

9
ClimographA climograph includes both the
average precipitation and the average temperature
data. When you combine the two previous graphs,
your climograph should look like this
one Be sure to include a title for
your graph and a key showing the symbols that
represent the average precipitation and the
average temperature.
10
Preparing Your Own Climograph
Click here to print a blank climograph and use it
to make your own climograph. Refer back to this
appendix if you need directions to make your own
climograph.