Definitions taken from infoplease

1. This PowerPoint presentation will help you learn how to create a climograph and how to use climographs to compare climates in different places.

2. Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a given place and time. For example, right now, the temperature in Chicago, Illinois may be 56°F with rain. Definitions taken from infoplease.com

3. Climate is the average condition of the atmosphere (such as temperature or precipitation) over a long period of time. For example, the average temperature over the past 40 years for the month of February may be 32°F. The average precipitation is 2.8 inches. Climate is the average of weather conditions in a place.

4. Two important elements of weather and climate are: precipitation and temperature • Precipitation includes all forms of moisture falling to the surface of the earth. (Examples: rain, sleet, snow, hail) • Temperature is how warm or cool the air is outside. * In this activity, mean temperature/precipitation is the same as average temperature/precipitation. Mean=Average

5. In the following activity you will compare the climate in your area to the climate in either Rome or Athens • First, we will learn how to develop a climograph by looking at an example for Orlando, Florida. A climograph is a graph that displays average (mean) precipitation and temperature for an area. A climograph is used to compare the climate in different places.

6. Noticing Precipitation Patterns • Orlando Florida precipitation

7. To graph the average precipitation: • Label the x-axis (horizontal) with the months (Jan.-Dec.) Label the y-axis (vertical), on the left side of the graph, with the average precipitation levels in millimeters or inches (in this graph it says inches). • Next, plot the average precipitation for Jan. by drawing a bar over “Jan” reaching up to the amount of precipitation listed for that month. For our example, the Jan. average precipitation was 2.1 inches, so we drew a bar over Jan reaching the 2.1 level on the y-axis of the graph. Continue graphing the precipitation data in the same manner for each month and for the year.

8. Temperature • Average temperature

9. To graph the average temperature: • Use the same graph on which you plotted the average precipitation for Orlando, FL. • Label the y-axis (vertical), on the right side of the graph, with the average temperature levels in degrees Fahrenheit. • Next, plot the average temperature for Jan. by placing a dot over Jan at the average temperature listed for that month. For our example, the January average temperature was 59.9°F, so we placed a dot over Jan at the 59.9 level on the y-axis of the graph. Continue graphing the remaining temperature data in the same manner for each month and for the year. • Last, connect the dots by drawing a line from the dot for January and continue through the dot for December. Key

10. A climograph includes both the average precipitation and the average data temperature. Your climograph should look like the one below. Be sure to include a title for your graph and a key showing the symbols that represent the average precipitation and the average temperature. Key

11. 50 120 45 100 40 TITLE 35 80 KEY 30 Average Precipitation in millimeters Average Temperature in Degree Fahrenheit 25 60 20 40 15 10 20 5 0 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D Year Month