TOPIC Climatic

6.6 graphs
A climatic graph—sometimes called a climograph—shows average Annual or Descriptive
temperatures and average precipitation (rainfall) at a given location over the monthly average term
12 months of the year. temperature (°C)
Climatic graphs are a combination of line graphs, showing temperature, above 35 very hot
and column graphs, showing precipitation. This allows the relationship 25 to 35 hot
between temperature and rainfall to be shown on one graph. 15 to 25 cool/warm

Interpreting and drawing a climatic graph 5 to 15 cold

Climatic graphs provide lots of information about temperature, precipitation, –5 to 5 very cold
the seasons and the location of a place. below –5 extremely
cold
Temperature
• The maximum (highest) temperature is the highest point on the maximum Annual Descriptive
temperature term
temperature graph. range (°C)
• The minimum (lowest) temperature is the lowest point on the minimum
more than 30 very high
temperature graph.
• The temperature range—for a day, a month, a season or a year—is the 15 to 30 high
difference between the highest and lowest temperatures for that period. 5 to 15 moderate
Precipitation less than 5 small
• The highest rainfall is shown by the highest column in the graph. Annual rainfall Descriptive
• The lowest rainfall is shown by the lowest column in the graph. (mm) term
• A number of high columns together show a distinct wet season. Hot climate
• A number of low columns together show a distinct dry season. less than 375 very low
• If all columns are quite high, it is wet all year round.
375 to 625 low
• A month in which less than 25 millimetres of rain falls is a dry month. The
more months there are with less than 25 millimetres a month, the drier the place. 625 to 1125 moderate
• To find the annual precipitation, add up all 12 precipitation figures. 1125 to 1750 high
more than 1750 very high

Name, location and altitude

Warm to cold climate
BRISBANE
Temperature scale (°C) Temp. 27°48'S 153°03'E less than 250 very low
on the left vertical axis °C Altitude 38 m Rain Rainfall scale (mm) on
40 mm the right vertical axis 250 to 500 low
500
35 500 to 1000 mm moderate
1000 to 1500 high
Average monthly temperatures 30 400
shown by line graphs—red line more than 1500 very high
for maximum and blue line for 25
Monthly average Descriptive
x.

300
ma

minimum temperatures
20 rainfall (mm) term
less than 25 dry
15 200
25 to 50 moderate
n.
mi

10
Average monthly rainfall shown by 100 50 to 150 wet
12 column graphs, with no gap 5
between columns more than 150 very wet
0 0 Horizontal axis shows
J F M A M J J A S O N D 6.18 Terms for describing
months of the year.
temperature and rainfall.
J F M A M J J A S O N D Ann. These terms can only be used
Ave. max. to give a general description
temp. (°C) 30 29 28 26 23 21 20 22 24 26 28 29 15.5
of climate statistics. Note that
Ave. min. 21 21 19 17 13 11 10 11 13 16 18 20 15.8 the terms for describing annual
temp. (°C)
rainfall relate rainfall to average
Ave. rainfall 160 158 141 93 74 68 57 46 46 75 97 133 1148 temperatures.
(mm)

6.17 Climatic graph of Brisbane, Queensland

88 KEY SKILLS IN GEOGRAPHY

The seasons December, January and February, the place is in the
• A temperature graph with a large dip (∪) in one northern hemisphere.
half of the year and a peak (∩) in the other half
shows distinct summer and winter seasons.
• Winter is shown by a dip (∪) and summer is
Study the Brisbane climatic graph in Figure 6.17.
shown by a peak (∩) in the annual temperature
graph. 1 Describe the units of measurement, the axes and
• Spring is the season when the temperature graph the types of graphs used to show temperature
is rising, and autumn is the season when the and rainfall.
temperature graph is falling. 2 Using the information on page 88, write a
description of Brisbane’s temperatures, rainfall,
Location seasons and location.
• A level temperature graph with constantly high
3 Now use the descriptive terms in Table 6.18 to
temperatures shows the place is close to the
write a description of the climate of Brisbane.
Equator—places close to the Equator have small ick Quiz
4 Study the climatic graph of Beijing in Figure 6.19. Qu
temperature ranges.
• A level temperature graph with constantly low to Using the statements about temperature, rainfall,
very low temperatures shows the place is closer seasons and location, and the information in Table
to one of the poles. 6.18, write a description of the climate of Beijing.
• A temperature graph with a large dip (∪) shows 5 Compare the climates of Beijing and Brisbane.
the place is either quite a long way from the Make a list of the points of similarity and
Equator or a long way inland—these places have difference. In which climate would you prefer to
ension
large temperature ranges. live? Why? Ext
• If the temperature graph dips during June, 6 Use the Internet to find climate statistics for
July and August (showing that winter is in the Alice Springs. Using Figure 6.19 to assist, draw a Material
middle of the year), the place is in the southern climatic graph. Then label the graph to describe
hemisphere. If the temperature graph dips during the climate, seasons and location of Alice Springs.

BEIJING, China Name, location and altitude

Temp.
39°93'N 116°20'E
Temperature scale °C
Altitude 54 m Rainfall scale on
on left vertical axis 35 Rain
right vertical axis
mm
30 450
1 Using graph paper, draw horizontal axis with
x.

25 400
ma

space for 12 months, and two vertical axes.

Length of vertical axes depends on scale selected.
5 Average monthly rainfall shown 20 350
by 12 column graphs with no 2 Select scale for temperature and rainfall.
.
min

gap between. Plot rainfall across 15 300 Temperature line graph may need to cross
column with ruler. Outline each rainfall columns. Mark and number the scale.
10 250 Label with units of measurement (°C and mm)
column and shade blue.
and months of year.
5 200
3 Average monthly temperatures shown by line
0 150 graphs. Plot temperature in middle of each
4 Join January and December column with tiny dot. Join dots with smooth line,
temperature lines to points at –5 100 red for maximum and blue for minimum
the same level on vertical axes. temperatures. Label with ‘max.’ and ‘min.’
–10 50
Rainfall starts at 0 mm.
Temperature starts below
lowest temperature or at 0°C. –15 0
J F M A M J J A S O N D Horizontal axis shows months of the year.

J F M A M J J A S O N D Ann.
Ave. max.
temp. (°C) 1 4 11 21 27 31 31 30 26 20 9 3 17.8
Ave. min. –10 –8 –1 7 13 18 21 20 14 6 –2 –8 5.8
temp. (°C)
Ave. rainfall 4 5 8 17 35 78 243 141 58 16 11 3 619
(mm)

6.19 Steps in drawing a climatic graph

Chapter 6 STATISTICS AND GRAPHS 89