CLIMATE GRAPHS

Learning goal: Evaluate climate data to decide if a place is liveable

Success Criteria: Identify key features of climate zones, create a climate graph
DEFINING CLIMATE
 WHAT IS CLIMATE?

Climate is the general weather over a long period. This can

include rainfall, temperature, snow or any other weather
condition.

We usually define a region's climate over a period of 30

years.
 CLIMATE AND LIVEABILITY
The climate of a place has an important impact on its
liveability. Different climates suit different people, bit it is
generally agreed that mild temperatures without extremes of
heat or cold help to make a place more liveable.
Reliable rainfall, low humidity and little likelihood of
weather-related disasters are also seen as being desirable.
These factors increase the liveability of a place.
 AUSTRALIA’S CLIMATE ZONES
Australia’s experiences a variety of climatic conditions,
primarily due to the vast size of the continent. There are five
distinct climate groups:
1. Tropical
2. Sub-tropical
3. Arid
4. Temperate
5. Cool
 CLIMATE GRAPHS
One way we are able to identify the climate of a place is by
evaluating their climate data, which is often displayed as a
graph.

Climate graphs show the average monthly rainfall and

temperature of a place which allows us to see whether their
climate is desirable or not.
CLIMATE GRAPHS
 KEY FEATURES OF A CLIMATE GRAPH
Brisbane Climate
30 180

160
25
140

Average [mean] temperature (°C)

20 120

Average rainfall (mm)

 Temperature (°C) is measured 100
15

using the numbers on the left 10

80

60

hand side of the chart. 5

40

20

0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Months

Average rainfall (mm) Average [mean] temperature (°C)

 KEY FEATURES OF A CLIMATE GRAPH
Brisbane Climate
30 180

160
25

 The average temperature for each

140

Average [mean] temperature (°C)

20 120

Average rainfall (mm)

month is plotted on the graph 15
100

with a red dot and the dots are 10

80

60

then connected in a smooth, red 5

40

line. 20

0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Months

Average rainfall (mm) Average [mean] temperature (°C)

 KEY FEATURES OF A CLIMATE GRAPH
Brisbane Climate
30 180

160
25
140

Average [mean] temperature (°C)

20 120

Average rainfall (mm)

 Precipitation (mm) is measured 100
15

using the numbers on the right 10

80

60

hand side of the chart. 5

40

20

0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Months

Average rainfall (mm) Average [mean] temperature (°C)

 KEY FEATURES OF A CLIMATE GRAPH
Brisbane Climate
30 180

160

 Precipitation (mm) is measured 25

140

Average [mean] temperature (°C)

using the numbers on the right 20 120

Average rainfall (mm)

100

hand side of the chart. The 15

80

average rainfall for each month is 10 60

plotted on the graph with a blue

40
5
20

bar. 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
0

Months

Average rainfall (mm) Average [mean] temperature (°C)

 GOLDEN RULE
e r t h e
Rem emb
READING THE TEMPERATURE LINE.
 The temperature line can be used to determine when summer occurs for that
city.
 Ifthe temperature line is shaped like a valley, summer is at the beginning and
end of the year. Meaning it is in the southern hemisphere.
 Ifthe temperature line is shaped like a hill, summer is in the middle of the
year. Meaning it is in the northern hemisphere.
 If the temperature line is relatively straight, this means the city is located close
to the equator.
READING THE TEMPERATURE LINE
In the southern hemisphere,
summer is at the beginning
and end of year.

In the northern hemisphere,

summer is in the middle of
the year.

Near the equator,

temperature is consistent.
 Brisbane Climate
30 180

160
25
140

Average [mean] temperature (°C)

tu re 20 120

Average rainfall (mm)

ra
e
p 100

te m ne 15

he li
80

T 10 60

40
5
20

0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Months

Average rainfall (mm) Average [mean] temperature (°C)

Along with showing the average temperature and rainfall of an area climate graphs can tell
you whether the place is in the northern hemisphere, northern hemisphere, or near the
equator.

Can you guess which part of the graph indicates its location?
 CLIMATE GRAPH - BESANÇON, FRANCE.

 The data below shows the average rainfall

Ma
Jan Feb Mar Apr Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
y
Average temp
(ºC)

Average
rainfall (mm) 85 70 80 85 90 100 90 100 100 105 100 90
 RAINFALL DATA

Besançon
120

100

Average [mean] temperature (°C)

 Your rainfall data should 80

look like this 60

40

20

0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Months

Average rainfall (mm)

 Climate Graph - Besançon, France.

 The data below shows the average temperature

Ma
Jan Feb Mar Apr Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
y
Average temp
(ºC) 3 3 5 8 13 17 20 18 16 12 6 4

Average
rainfall (mm)
 TEMPERATURE LINE
Besançon
25

20

Average [mean] temperature (°C)

 Your temperature line should 15

look like this 10

0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Months

Average [mean] temperature (°C)

 LETS PUT IT TOGETHER
Besançon
25 120

100
20

Average [mean] temperature (°C)

80

Average rainfall (mm)

15

 Your climate graph should

60

10
40

look like this 5

20

0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average rainfall (mm) Average [mean] temperature (°C)

Average temp (ºC) 3 3 5 8 13 17 20 18 16 12 6 4

Average rainfall
(mm) 85 70 80 85 90 100 90 100 100 105 100 90
Lets compare…
Lets compare…