Climate Graphs

Climate graphs show the average temperature and rainfall for a city or region over the year. Temperature is always shown in the form of a line graph. Some climate graphs have the average maximum temperature and the average minimum, others just have the overall average temperature. The line graph is normally coloured in red. Rainfall is always shown in the form a bar graph and normally coloured in blue.

Climate graphs are very good for showing averages, but they don't show anomalous years, because it is based on averages and it doesn't show things like the number of days of rain. A month may have 50mm of rain, but we don't know if that comes in small rain showers or one big thunderstorm.

When reading climate graphs you should look for trends and anomalies. On the graph below the temperature trend is fairly easy to read. It increases from January to July and then decreases until December. The rainfall data is not as straight forward because some of the early months fluctuate (go up and down). Whenever you are describing graphs, remember it is very important to use figures with the correct unit. Occasionally you maybe asked to give the temperature or rainfall range - this is the difference between the highest and lowest total.

Edinburg's Climate Graph

Climate Graph

Watch the following video on 

Climate Graph

How to Draw a Climate Graph

Climate Graph: Geo Skills