Interpreting Climate Graphs

What is a climate graph?

•a type of chart or graph that displays for a place the annual

pattern of the two most important climate variables:

precipitation and temperature

Precipitation is

shown by the

bars, with the

amounts on the

right Y-axis.

Temperature is

shown by the

line, with the

degrees on the

left Y-axis.

The data shown are

monthly averages,

with the months

across the X-axis.

Of what value are climate graphs?

•Climate graphs can be used to compare the climate of

selected locations quickly and simply.

•Especially useful to tell if a place has a continental or a

maritime climate.

•Continental: low annual precipitation; large annual

temperature range because of no moderating effect of a

large a body of water.

•Maritime: high annual precipitation; low annual

temperature range because of the moderating effect of

large a large body of water.

High annual precipitation,

with no seasonal

maximum.

Low (fairly low) annual

temperature range.

Winters are mild.

Summers are not hot.

Therefore, it’s a maritime

climate.

Moncton, NB

Low annual precipitation

High annual temperature

range

Therefore, continental climate.

Yellowknife, NWT

Fairly low annual

precipitation

Large annual temperature

range

Therefore, continental

climate

Timmins, ON

Very low annual

precipitation

Large annual temperature

range

Therefore, continental

climate

Resolute, NWT

Very low annual

precipitation

Large annual temperature

range

Therefore, continental

climate

Wait a minute …..!

Resolute is on water yet it

has a continental climate.

How come?

Because the water it is on

(the Arctic Ocean) is frozen

9 months of the year and so

acts like a land area.

Resolute, NWT

Fairly high annual

precipitation

Fairly low annual

temperature range

Therefore, maritime

climate.

Toronto, huh?

While “the T Dot” is in the

interior of North America,

Lake Ontario moderates

the temperature and

causes slightly more

precipitation.

Toronto, ON

Small annual precipitation.

Large annual temperature

range.

Therefore, continental

climate

Regina, SK

Fairly low annual

precipitation

Fairly high annual

temperature range.

Therefore, continental

climate.

Prince George, BC

Very high annual

precipitation

Very low annual

temperature range

Therefore, maritime climate.

Now, do the handout.