How to Draw a Climate Graph
1. Draw a rectangle 20cm high and 12cm wide. Divide the width of the rectangle
into twelve columns of 1cm each. The columns represent the months of the year.
Print the initial of each month across the top of each column, starting with J for
January.
2. The vertical line on the left of the graph represents temperature. From the base
line measure 10cm up this line. Draw a horizontal line at this point. This
represents the freezing point. (0 degrees Celsius)
3. Each centimetre above the zero line represents an increase in temperature of 5
degrees Celsius. Each centimetre below the line represents a decrease in
temperature of 5 degrees Celsius. Mark these intervals onto your graph. Be sure to
include the minus sign for temperatures below freezing.
4. Draw a horizontal green line across the graph at the 5.6 degree Celsius point.
Label this line the growing season. This is the temperature at which most common
grasses start to grow.
5. Using the climate data for the given place, plot the temperature for each month. In
RED, join the dots together to form a continuous line. You have now completed a
line graph showing monthly temperatures. Shade the area between the
temperature line and the growing season line in green. Shade only the areas above
the growing season line.
6. The vertical line on the right of the graph represents precipitation. The base line
represents 0 mm. Each centimetre above the base line represents an increase of
10mm. Mark these interval along the vertical line.
7. Using the monthly precipitation figures for the given place, plot the data on your
graph. To do this, draw a straight-line across the column for each month at the
appropriate measurement. Remember that 1cm of rain equals 10cm of snow.
8. Shade in blue those columns with an average monthly temperature above
freezing. This indicates that most precipitation was in the form of rain. Leave the
columns with an average monthly temperature below freezing white.