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

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 56F
  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
  32F. The average precipitation is 2.8 inches.
• Climate is the average of weather conditions
  in a place.

4
Just as the weather differs from day to day, the
climate differs from place to place.

• Seattle, WA Houston, TX Phoenix,
  AZ Barrow, AK
• Cool Warm
  Hot Cold
• Moist Moist Dry
  Dry

5
Just Checking

1. What is weather?
2. What is climate?
3. How are weather and climate different?

6
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.
  
• MeanAverage

7
In the following activity you will compare the
climate in your area to the climate in Chongqing,
China

• 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.
• Next, we will create one climograph for
  Chongqing, China and another for your hometown.
• Finally, you will use the two climographs you
  created to compare the climate in your hometown
  with the climate in Chongqing, China.

8
Practice making a climograph for Orlando, Florida

• Find the climate data (average/mean temperature
  and precipitation) for Orlando, Florida.
• Go to www. worldclimate.com
• Type Orlando in the Search Box and click on the
  search button.
• Click on the Orlando/Jetport/FL., United States
  of America link.
• Scroll down to Orlando/Jetport/FL., United States
  of America

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Noticing Precipitation Patterns

• Click on the average rainfall link. Take note of
  any patterns you see
• Note This website uses the words average
  rainfall instead of average precipitation. It
  is more accurate to use average precipitation
  since this includes all forms of precipitation
  (such as rain, snow, and sleet).
• Is there more precipitation in the summer months
  (July, August, September) or the winter months
  (January, February, March)?
• What other patterns do you see in the average
  precipitation data 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
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• To graph the average precipitation
• Label the x-axis (horizontal) with the months
  (Jan.-Dec.) and include a space for the yearly
  average precipitation.
• Label the y-axis (vertical), on the left side of
  the graph, with the average precipitation levels
  in 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.

11
Noticing Temperature Patterns

• Click the back button and scroll down to
  Orlando/Jetport/FL., United States of America
• Click on the average temperature link.
• Is it hotter in the summer (July, August,
  September) or in the winter months (January,
  February, March)?
• What other patterns do you see in the average
  temperature data 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
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• 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 59.9F, 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. Do not connect the dot for the year.

Key
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• A climograph includes both the average
  precipitation and the average temperature data.
  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
14
Now it is your turn

• First, print 2 blank copies of the graph from the
  next slide.

15
50
120
45
100
40

TITLE
35
80
KEY
30
Average Precipitation in Inches
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
16
Finding the Climate Data for Chongqing, China

• To find the climate data (average temperature and
  precipitation) for Chongqing, China, go to
  http//www.worldclimate.com.
• Type Chongqing in the search box and click enter.
  
• Click on Chongqing, China.
• Be sure to click on both average rainfall and
  average precipitation data for Chongqing, China.
  You may want to write this data on a piece of
  paper or print it out.

17
Graphing the Average Precipitation for
Chongqing, China

• Using one of the graphs you printed, plot the
  average precipitation data. For example, using
  the precipitation amount for January, create a
  bar above the J reaching up to the amount of
  precipitation listed for that month. Be sure to
  use the scale on the left y-axis for graphing
  average precipitation. Do the same for all
  months and the yearly precipitation data.

18
Graphing the Average Temperature for Chongqing,
China

• Next, using the same graph, plot the average
  temperature data. For example, using the
  temperature information for January, place a dot
  above the J using the scale on the right y-axis.
  Do the same for all months and the yearly total.
  Draw a line connecting the dots from January to
  December.
• Be sure to put a title at the top of your
  climograph in the box labeled titleand a key in
  the box labeled key.

19
Climate Patterns in Chongqing, China

• What pattern do you see in the average monthly
  precipitation for Chongqing?
• What pattern do you see in the average monthly
  temperature for Chongqing?

20
Finding the Climate Data for Your Hometown

• To find the average temperature and precipitation
  for your hometown go to http//www.worldclimate.co
  m.
• Type the name of your hometown in the search box
  and click enter.
• You may not find your hometown. If your hometown
  is not listed go to a larger city near your home.
  
• Be sure to use the data from a location that has
  both average temperature and average
  precipitation. You may want to write this data
  on a piece of paper or print it out.

21
Graphing the climate in your hometown

• Using one of the graphs you printed, plot the
  average precipitation data. For example, using
  the precipitation amount for January, create a
  bar above the J reaching up to the amount of
  precipitation listed for that month. Be sure to
  use the scale shown on the left y-axis for
  graphing average precipitation. Do the same for
  all the months and for the yearly total.

22
Graphing the Average Temperature for Your Hometown

• Next, using the same graph, plot the average
  temperature data. For example, using the
  temperature information for January, place a dot
  above the J using the scale shown on the right
  y-axis. Do the same for all the months and for
  the yearly average. Draw a line connecting the
  dots from January through December. Do not
  connect the dot for the year.
• Be sure to put a title at the top of your
  climograph in the box labeled titleand a key in
  the box labeled key.

23

• Using climographs to compare the climate of
  Chongqing, China to the climate of your hometown
• Which are the warmest months in Chongqing, China?
• Which are the warmest months in your hometown?
• Which are the coolest months in Chongqing, China?
• Which are the coolest months in your hometown?
• Which place has the highest average temperature
  for the year?
• Write a sentence comparing the average monthly
  temperatures in Chongqing to the average monthly
  temperatures in your hometown.

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• Which are the wettest months in Chongqing, China?
• Which are the wettest months in your hometown?
• Which place has the highest yearly precipitation?
• Write a sentence comparing the average yearly
  precipitation in Chongqing with the average
  yearly precipitation in your hometown.

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Something to think about

• Would the average yearly temperature and the
  average yearly precipitation be a good way to
  describe the climate of an area?
• Why or why not?
• If you were to live in Chongqing, China for a
  year, what changes might you make in your
  clothing or activities because of the climate?

26
How Does the Climate Differ Across China?

• There are 5 cities listed on the map above
  Harbin, Beijing, Guangzhou, Fengdu and Kashi. In
  the next activity, you will create a series of
  climographs to compare the climates of these
  cities.

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First, print the next three slides, including the
blank climograph and climate data charts.
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50
120
45
100
40
35
80
Title
30
Average Precipitation in Inches
Average Temperature in Degree Fahrenheit
25
Key
60
20
40
15
10
20
5
0
0
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Year
Month
29
Harbin, China
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year
Average Temperature (F) -3.2 4.3 22.6 42.8 57.4 67.6 73.4 70.3 57.7 42.1 21.0 3.2 37.9
Average Precipitation (in.) 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.9 1.7 3.5 6.1 4.6 2.4 1.1 0.4 0.2 21.8
Beijing, China
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year
Average Temperature (F) 23.7 28.8 40.5 56.5 68.0 75.9 78.8 76.5 67.6 54.7 39.0 27.3 53.2
Average Precipitation (in.) 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.7 1.3 3.1 8.8 6.7 2.3 0.7 0.4 0.1 25.0
Guangzhou, China
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year
Average Temperature (F) 56.3 57.7 63.5 71.1 77.9 81.1 82.9 82.8 80.8 75.2 66.9 59.5 71.4
Average Precipitation (in.) 1.6 2.7 3.8 6.7 10.4 10.4 9.7 9.1 6.2 2.5 1.6 1.2 66.1
30
Fengdu, China
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year
Average Temperature (F) 46.6 49.6 57.9 66.4 73.0 77.9 84.0 84.4 75.9 66.2 57.7 49.6 65.8
Average Precipitation (in.) 0.7 0.8 1.5 3.7 5.8 6.8 5.9 5.0 5.7 4.1 1.9 0.9 43.0
Kashi, China
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year
Average Temperature (F) 21.2 29.8 45.7 59.4 67.6 74.5 78.3 75.9 67.1 53.8 37.9 25.0 53.1
Average Precipitation (in.) 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 2.5
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• After printing out the previous slides, make 5
  copies of the blank climograph.
• Plot the climate data for each of the cities on a
  different climograph.
• Be sure to put a title and a key on each
  climograph.

32
Use the graph you just created to compare the
climate in different cities across China

• Which place has the lowest average temperature
  for the year?
• Which place has the coldest winter (January,
  February, March)?
• Which place has the warmest winter (January,
  February, March)?
• Which place has the highest average temperature
  for the year?
• Which place has the hottest summer (July, August,
  Sept)?
• Which place has the coolest summer (July, August,
  Sept)?

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• Which place has the highest yearly precipitation?
• Which place has the wettest summer (July, August,
  Sept)?
• Which place has the wettest winter (January,
  February, March)?
• Which place has the climate most similar to the
  climate of your hometown?
• Which place has the lowest yearly precipitation?

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• Describing Patterns
• Look at the map of China on slide 25 and at the
  climographs you have created
• Which parts of China are the coldest? warmest?
• Which parts of China are the driest? wettest?
• What patterns can you see in the climate of
  China?

35
Just Checking

• The condition of the atmosphere at a given place
  and time is called ___________________.
• The average condition of the atmosphere over a
  long period of time is called __________________.
• The two main elements of weather and climate are
  ___________ and ____________.
• Another word for average is ________________.
• Forms of precipitation include ___________________
  __________________________________________________
  ______________________________.
• A graph used to show average temperature and
  precipitation for a place is called a
  __________________.