Name: ___Tiya Shen_________
Date: _______May 22, 2016________
Activity 1.1 - Climatographs
Student Instructions:
For this assignment, you will complete the activity by reading the purpose and procedures,
answering questions and writing a conclusion in this Word Document
You will also produce a graph. This can be done on paper, scanned and uploaded OR done
with an Excel if you would prefer.
Please follow the student instructions highlighted in yellow.
Purpose:
To interpret, compare and construct climatographs.
Materials:
Graph paper, pencil ruler OR graphing program
Procedures:
Part 1 - Climatograph Interpretation:
1) Look at the climatograph below and answer the following questions (type directly below each
question using FULL SENTENCES):
a) What information is indicated on the left hand y-axis (vertical axis?)
It is the temperate of Kamloops.
b) What are the units on this axis?
The unit is degree Celsius.
c) What information is indicated on the right hand y-axis?
It is the precipitation of Kamloops.
d) What are the units on this axis?
The unit is millimeter.
e) What information is indicated on the x-axis (horizontal axis)?
It is the time, and the unit is month.
f) If you were looking at the line (temperature) which axis should you use?
I should use the left hand y-axis.
g) If you were looking at the bars (precipitation) which axis should you use?
I should use the right hand y-axis.
Part 2: Construct a Climatograph
Student Instruction: You can use graph paper and then scan and upload your graph, or use a
graphing program like excel to create a graph. (Note that creating a graph with a double y-axis
is a bit tricky, so you may want to do this by hand)
2) Use the data below (Source: Environment Canada) to construct a climatograph for Prince Rupert
BC.
- months should be on the x- axis (horizontal axis)
- temperature on the left hand y-axis (vertical axis), present as a line graph (smooth curve, NOT
connect the dots)
- precipitation on the right hand y-axis (vertical axis), present as a bar graph
- refer to the graph in part 1 as an example
Month
Average
Maximum
Temperature
(oC)
Average
Precipitation
(mm)
January
4.6
256.9
February
5.9
203.9
March
7.4
191.6
April
9.9
178.7
May
12.3
139.5
June
14.2
123.7
July
16.1
114.3
August
16.7
155.4
Climate Data for Prince Rupert, BC
Tips for good graphing:
- use a ruler for straight lines,
- make sure to label all axis including units,
October
11.7
379
- make sure all intervals (the squares or tic marks
November
7.1
305 on a graph) are worth an EQUAL AMOUNT...for
December
5.1
302 example go up by twos, fives etc.
- the graph should be large enough to be
interpreted visually....at least 1/2 a page is a good rule of thumb
September
14.9
244
Data and Observations:
Ensure you upload your graph with this assignment.
Questions:
Student Instructions: Answer these questions directly in the Word document under each
question. Please use full sentences
1) How would you describe the climate of Kamloops (part 1) compared to the climate of Prince
Rupert (part 2). For example is it hot/mild/cold, dry/wet/average precipitation?
The climate of Kamloops is drier than the climate of Prince Rupert, but their average temperate
are almost same.
2) Which biome type do you think Kamloops is, based on the climatograph? Explain your answer
(refer to the previous lesson biomes if you need to).
I think it is a cold desert because the average precipitation is below 25cm, but the average
temperature is not as high as a hot desert.
3) Which biome type do you think Prince Rupert is, based on the climatograph? Explain your answer
(refer to the previous lesson on biomes if you need to).
I think it is a temperate rainforest because its average precipitation is over 200cm, and the
average temperature is 10.6 degree Celsius, it is in the rage of temperate rainforest’s temperature,
from 5 degree Celsius to 25 degree Celsius.
Conclusion:
Student instructions: Type your conclusion in paragraph form below.
In one or two well written paragraphs written in the third person, write a conclusion. Discuss the
major results of this activity, the science behind it, what you have learned and any difficulties in this
activity.
DO NOT:
- simply repeat the procedures,- use I, we, names etc
Third Person Writing
For example, instead of saying "I learned in this lab," try saying "This lab demonstrated..."
Instead of saying "I think Climatographs are used for..." say "Climatographs are used for..."
Conclusion:
Being Able to Reading Climatograph
Tiya Shen
The climatograph is a graph about the average temperate and precipitation for a location. Being able to read a
climatograph is an important skill in science. People get many information from the graph. For example, the
location, the vegetation, and the biome.
The precipitation tells people the vegetation in the place. Abundant rainfall means the vegetation are diverse
and growing well. Trees are very tall because plants need water to grow. Limited rainfall means the plant
species are monotonous and the plants can’t be tall. The plants in the dry place is short because that can
reduce loss water.
The temperate makes people know where it locations. If the temperate in January, November, and December
is high than the temperate in June, July, and August, people can know the place is in southern hemisphere and
vice versa. If the temperate is very high, people can know the place is in the tropical zone. If the temperate is
low, people can know it’s in polar circle.
If people combine the temperate and precipitation, they can know the biome of the place. Every each biome
has different characters of climate, so people can compare the climate of each biome, and match the climate of
the climatograph. Then, people can know what the biome is on the climatogroph.
In conclusion, people get so much information from reading a climatograph. It can be understood why this skill
is so important.