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How to draw a climate graph. CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC COLLEGE – GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT. By the end of today’s lesson you will: know how to draw a climate graph. be able to read a climate table and graph. 1. CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC COLLEGE – GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT.
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How to draw a climate graph CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC COLLEGE – GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT By the end of today’s lesson you will: • know how to draw a climate graph. • be able to read a climate table and graph. 1
CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC COLLEGE – GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT The table below shows the climate data for Leeds. The average temperature in March is 6°C The average rainfall in June is 53 mm To make it easier for you, you will need to add the total column to your charts!! How would you calculate the total annual rainfall How would you calculate the average annual temperature? How would you calculate the temperature range? 2
CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC COLLEGE – GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT But how do you represent the data above in the form of a graph? The red line is the average temperature The blue bars show average rainfall 3
CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC COLLEGE – GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT Once you have drawn a climate graph you need to be able to interpret (read) the graph. The temperature peaks in July and August with an average of 16°C. The wettest month is August when an average of 66 mm of rain falls The maximum rainfall is 66 mm and the minimum is 41 mm – a range of 25 mm. The maximum temperature is 16°C and the minimum is 3°C – a range of 13°C. The driest month is February when an average of 41 mm of rain falls. The coldest months are January and February with an average monthly temperature of 3°C. 4
CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC COLLEGE – GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT How to Interpret Continental or Maritime Climates The average temperature in March is 6°C The average rainfall in June is 53 mm To make it easier for you, you will need to add the total column to your charts!! How would you calculate the total annual rainfall How would you calculate the average annual temperature? How would you calculate the temperature range? 5
Interpreting Climate Regions How to determine if the region has a Maritime (near coast) climate or Continental (inland) Climate.
How to interpret Climate Graphs Step 1: Calculate the total Annual Precipitation level To make it easier for you, you will need to add the total column to your charts!! You will add together the 12 monthly average rainfall totals and come to a yearly grand total in mm. Add monthly precip. totals to get Annual Precipitation Total - The total will indicate if it has dry or wet climate - a total less than < 1000 mm = CONTINENTAL climate - a total greater than > 1000 mm = MARTIME climate 7
How to interpret Climate Graphs Step 2: Calculate the Annual Average Temperature You will add together the 12 monthly average temperature totals, and then divide by 12 to get the average annual precipitation level To make it easier for you, you will need to add the total column to your charts!! Add monthly Temp. totals and divide by 12 to get the Average Annual Temperature total for this location - The total will indicate if it has a warm or cool climate 8
How to interpret Climate Graphs Step 3: Determine the Temperature Range Subtract the lowest temperature from the highest temperature.... The number you get is the TEMPERATURE RANGE 16 – 3 = 13 degrees To make it easier for you, you will need to add the total column to your charts!! A range in temperature larger than 25 degrees = CONTINENTAL CLIMATE smaller than 25 degrees = MARITIME CLIMATE ** Remember, maritime climates are affected by being near large bodies of water, so their temperatures do not swing as much as a continental climate 9
How to interpret Climate Graphs Step 4: Seasonal distribution of precipitation : summer/winter Summer season for precipitation level is from April to September. Add those monthly totals together for a grand total of SUMMER PRECIP. Levels Winter Season for precipitation levels is from October to March Add those monthly totals together for a grand total of WINTER PRECIP. Levels If your WINTER precip. totals are greatest = MARITME CLIMATE If your SUMMER precip. totals are greatest = CONTINENTAL CLIMATE 10
To determine if your region has a maritime or continental climate… • Look at all three totals: • Temperature Range • Total Precipitation Levels • Season of Greatest Precipitation Level BEST 2 OUT of THREE WINS !!!!! eg: 2 maritime results and 1 continental means it’s a MARITIME REGION