Geography Skills & Techniques - Reading Climate Graphs (Climograph)

(Adapted from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/geographical_skills/graphs_rev4.shtml)

Climate graphs are a combination of a bar graph and a line graph. 
Temperature is shown on a line graph, with the figures being shown on the right side of the graph. Rainfall is shown by a bar graph, with the figures being shown down the left side of the graph.

The climate graph below shows average annual rainfall and temperature throughout the year for a particular area.

Interpreting climate graphs

In the exam you may be asked to look at the information in the graph and describe the area's climate.

1. Look for patterns in the temperature data
   • Is the temperature the same all year round? If it is different, how many seasons does the location experience?
   • Which season is the warmest? Is it warm (10 to 20°C), hot (20 to 30°C) or very hot (above 30°C)?
   • Which season is the coolest? Is it mild (0 to 10°C), cold (-10 to 0°C) or very cold (below -10°C)?
   • What is the range of temperature? (Subtract the minimum temperature from the maximum temperature).
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2. Look for patterns in the rainfall data
   • Does the rainfall occur all year round?
   • What is the pattern of the rainfall? Check which season(s) is/are drier or wetter than others.
   • What is the total annual rainfall? Add each month's total together to get the annual total.
   • Then put the rainfall and temperature information together - what does it tell you about this area?
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3. Describe the patterns in temperature and rainfall, including how they relate to each other. You now have a description of the climate.
   • Now look again at the climate graph above. What can you deduce about the climate?