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.
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:
•Jan.
•Feb.
•Mar.
•Apr.
•May
•Jun.
•Jul.
•Aug.
•Sep.
•Oct.
•Nov.
•Dec.
•Year
•mm
•54.6
•72.6
•86.5
•60.0
•83.5
•72.6
•97.3
•68.1
•66.3
•79.3
•52.1
•53.0
•1247.8
•inches
•2.1
•2.9
•3.4
•2.4
•3.3
•6.8
•7.8
•6.6
•6.5
•3.1
•2.1
•2.1
•49.1
• 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?
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.
Graphing Average Precipitation
Label the yaxis (vertical)
with the
average
precipitation
levels in inches.
This example
uses intervals of
5 inches between
markings.
Label the x-axis (horizontal) with the
months (Jan.-Dec.) and include a space
for the yearly average precipitation at
the end.
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.
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:
•Jan.
•Feb.
•Mar.
•Apr.
•May
•Jun.
•Jul.
•Aug.
•Sep.
•Oct.
•Nov.
•Dec.
•Year
•°C
•15.5
•16.6
•19.2
•21.9
•25.1
•27.3
•28.0
•28.0
•27.2
•23.8
•19.7
•16.6
•22.4
•°F
•59.9
•61.9
•66.6
•71.4
•77.2
•81.1
•82.4
•82.4
•81.0
•74.8
•67.5
•61.9
•72.3
– 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?
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.
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 temperature was 59.9°F, 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.
Climograph
A 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.
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.