Friday, February 20, 2009
Climographs
We revisited climate and precipitation over again today. There’re just a few main points that we need to remember, in order to describe climographs accurately and concisely, so here it goes.Climate: Tropical (Arid), warm or cold temperate, polar (tundra)
To differentiate warm or cold temperate countries, warm temperate countries have warmer winters and summers whereas cold temperate countries have cooler summers and winters.
When describing climate, we need to say:
a) How warm it is–
This is measured in terms of temperature (not a description). Humidity is NOT included.
BE SPECIFIC: Is it freezing cold, cold, cool, warm, or sweltering hot?
After we focus on magnitude, focus on the distribution throughout the year (compare to seasons). Is it high, low or moderate? Then, we focus on the range. Is it small or large?
b) How wet it is—
This is mentioned in terms of how much liquid is precipitated. We use the term precipitation as it includes snow, hail, etc, whereas rainfall does not. Move on to describe precipitation; is it dry(draught season), or wet(monsoon)? Is it even, or uneven?
Then, we can see if there is a pattern between precipitation and rainfall. In countries such as Tokyo, temperatures and precipitation increase at decrease at around the same periods. If there is none, then nevermind.
Additional point: To describe temperature or precipitation, we put anomalies aside in order to determine the precipitation kind or temperature type. Always remember that climate is based on how wet, and how warm a country is.
My opinion: I think a good climograph description should be able to reflect the temperature and precipitation in a country in someone’s head if there is no climograph.
Barrow, Alaska, USA
- Generally freezing cold and dry.
- Extremely low rainfall, with peak periods of July to October at 20mm. Mostly, rainfall during the year barely reaches 10mm.
- Temperatures are usually sub zero (below zero) with warmer months from June to September at 1°C to 5 °C, and cold months occur in December to February at around 28°C.
- Warmer and wetter periods exist from July to October, whereas Colder and drier periods from December to February.
- Climate is typical of a Polar tundra.
a) How warm it is–
This is measured in terms of temperature (not a description). Humidity is NOT included.
BE SPECIFIC: Is it freezing cold, cold, cool, warm, or sweltering hot?
After we focus on magnitude, focus on the distribution throughout the year (compare to seasons). Is it high, low or moderate? Then, we focus on the range. Is it small or large?
b) How wet it is—
This is mentioned in terms of how much liquid is precipitated. We use the term precipitation as it includes snow, hail, etc, whereas rainfall does not. Move on to describe precipitation; is it dry(draught season), or wet(monsoon)? Is it even, or uneven?
Then, we can see if there is a pattern between precipitation and rainfall. In countries such as Tokyo, temperatures and precipitation increase at decrease at around the same periods. If there is none, then nevermind.
Additional point: To describe temperature or precipitation, we put anomalies aside in order to determine the precipitation kind or temperature type. Always remember that climate is based on how wet, and how warm a country is.
My opinion: I think a good climograph description should be able to reflect the temperature and precipitation in a country in someone’s head if there is no climograph.
Barrow, Alaska, USA
- Generally freezing cold and dry.
- Extremely low rainfall, with peak periods of July to October at 20mm. Mostly, rainfall during the year barely reaches 10mm.
- Temperatures are usually sub zero (below zero) with warmer months from June to September at 1°C to 5 °C, and cold months occur in December to February at around 28°C.
- Warmer and wetter periods exist from July to October, whereas Colder and drier periods from December to February.
- Climate is typical of a Polar tundra.
Santiago, Chile
- Santiago has a warm temperature climate throughout the year. The temperature has a large range from 8°C to 20°C. The highest temperature is 20°C in December to February, followed by a steady decrease in temperature to a low of 8°C. After this decrease, temperature steadily rises back to 20°C.
- Santiago receives an uneven amount of precipitation throughout the year. It is dry during summer and slightly wet in winter, autumn. The range is from 0mm to 9mm. This precipitation differs from the temperature graph in a way that when temperature is high, rainfall is of a minimal amount. Conversely when temperature is low, rainfall is rather high. It increases to 9mm in June, followed by a decrease to 0mm in December, which lasts till about March.
- Climate is typical of a hot, arid one.
- Santiago has a warm temperature climate throughout the year. The temperature has a large range from 8°C to 20°C. The highest temperature is 20°C in December to February, followed by a steady decrease in temperature to a low of 8°C. After this decrease, temperature steadily rises back to 20°C.
- Santiago receives an uneven amount of precipitation throughout the year. It is dry during summer and slightly wet in winter, autumn. The range is from 0mm to 9mm. This precipitation differs from the temperature graph in a way that when temperature is high, rainfall is of a minimal amount. Conversely when temperature is low, rainfall is rather high. It increases to 9mm in June, followed by a decrease to 0mm in December, which lasts till about March.
- Climate is typical of a hot, arid one.
Bombay, India
- Bombay is HOT, and has a fairly high temperature which is constant throughout the year with monthly average temperature between 23°C and 30°C.
- Bombay has a very uneven distribution of precipitation. During its wet season between June to September, it receives an intensive precipitation, especially in the month of July. (Approximately 650mm.
NOTE: In some countries, temperatures rise, as well as rainfall. However, this is just a trend, not that it is supposed to be that way.
- In September, there is a sharp drop in precipitation, followed by the rest of the months in the year (November to March), in which it is extremely dry and receive on average a precipitation below 10mm. This is very low, and sometimes so low that it hardly receives any rainfall.
- This climograph is typical of a tropical monsoon climate.
- Bombay is HOT, and has a fairly high temperature which is constant throughout the year with monthly average temperature between 23°C and 30°C.
- Bombay has a very uneven distribution of precipitation. During its wet season between June to September, it receives an intensive precipitation, especially in the month of July. (Approximately 650mm.
NOTE: In some countries, temperatures rise, as well as rainfall. However, this is just a trend, not that it is supposed to be that way.
- In September, there is a sharp drop in precipitation, followed by the rest of the months in the year (November to March), in which it is extremely dry and receive on average a precipitation below 10mm. This is very low, and sometimes so low that it hardly receives any rainfall.
- This climograph is typical of a tropical monsoon climate.
Tombouctou, Mali
- Tombouctou, Mali has a warm climate with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 33°C throughout the year. Temperatures increase steadily towards midyear (Jan) from 20°C to 33°C in June, and decreases from mid year to year end (Dec) from 33°C to 20°c.
- Tombouctou, Mali has a dry climate with rainfall less than 50mm for most of the year except during the mid year (June to Sept) when it gets slightly wetter with precipitation of approx 80mm.
- This climograph is of a tropical, arid climate.
- Tombouctou, Mali has a warm climate with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 33°C throughout the year. Temperatures increase steadily towards midyear (Jan) from 20°C to 33°C in June, and decreases from mid year to year end (Dec) from 33°C to 20°c.
- Tombouctou, Mali has a dry climate with rainfall less than 50mm for most of the year except during the mid year (June to Sept) when it gets slightly wetter with precipitation of approx 80mm.
- This climograph is of a tropical, arid climate.
London, England
- While temperatures in London tend to rise and decrease in the year, rainfall tends to remain around the same amount.
- London has a cool climate with a steady increase in temperature from Jan to july (approx 5°C to 18°C). When temperature reaches its peak in July, it starts decreasing to a temperature of 5°C from July to December.
- London has a relatively even distribution of precipitation throughout the four seasons (approx 50 to 70mm.)
OR
- You could say: London has a rather small range of precipitation throughout the year.
- This climograph is of a typical warm temperate climate. (warmer summer and winter).
- While temperatures in London tend to rise and decrease in the year, rainfall tends to remain around the same amount.
- London has a cool climate with a steady increase in temperature from Jan to july (approx 5°C to 18°C). When temperature reaches its peak in July, it starts decreasing to a temperature of 5°C from July to December.
- London has a relatively even distribution of precipitation throughout the four seasons (approx 50 to 70mm.)
OR
- You could say: London has a rather small range of precipitation throughout the year.
- This climograph is of a typical warm temperate climate. (warmer summer and winter).
Tokyo, Japan
- Japan has a relatively cool climate throughout the year. From Jan to Aug, there is a steady increase of temperature of approximately 4°C to 26°C. Temperatures reach their peak at around August, followed by a stable decrease to approximately 6°C.
- Japan is relatively wet—its precipitation mostly averages from 100mm to 200mm. It is rather high in the months of June, September and October, but precipitation is fairly low from November to February comparatively. In months such as July and August, precipitation drops from June, then rises in September, where it is supposedly supposed to increase in relation to the steady upward trend. The precipitation graph tends to follow the temperature graph.
- This climograph is typical of a warm temperate climate.
- Japan has a relatively cool climate throughout the year. From Jan to Aug, there is a steady increase of temperature of approximately 4°C to 26°C. Temperatures reach their peak at around August, followed by a stable decrease to approximately 6°C.
- Japan is relatively wet—its precipitation mostly averages from 100mm to 200mm. It is rather high in the months of June, September and October, but precipitation is fairly low from November to February comparatively. In months such as July and August, precipitation drops from June, then rises in September, where it is supposedly supposed to increase in relation to the steady upward trend. The precipitation graph tends to follow the temperature graph.
- This climograph is typical of a warm temperate climate.
Brueno Aires, Arg
- Brueno Aires has a moderately high range of temperature varying from 9°C to 23°C. The hottest months are from Dec to March where temperatures hit above 20°C. This is followed by a decrease in temperature in the months of march to August, in which temperatures are lowest in June. Subsequently, temperatures then resume with an increase.
- There is a relatively even amount of precipitation throughout the year, of less than 100mm. Dry months exist in the months of May to August of approximately 50mm, and in September to April, precipitation is of a larger amount. The peak is during March, reaching a high of 110mm.
- Brueno Aires has a fairly wet climate.
- This climograph is typical of a warm temperate climate.
- Brueno Aires has a moderately high range of temperature varying from 9°C to 23°C. The hottest months are from Dec to March where temperatures hit above 20°C. This is followed by a decrease in temperature in the months of march to August, in which temperatures are lowest in June. Subsequently, temperatures then resume with an increase.
- There is a relatively even amount of precipitation throughout the year, of less than 100mm. Dry months exist in the months of May to August of approximately 50mm, and in September to April, precipitation is of a larger amount. The peak is during March, reaching a high of 110mm.
- Brueno Aires has a fairly wet climate.
- This climograph is typical of a warm temperate climate.
McMurdo Station
- Fairly constant and low precipitation throughout the year, ranging from 0mm to 10mm. The climate is extremely dry, with sub zero temperatures ranging from approximately -26°C to -4°C. In the months of April to September, temperatures are extremely low as it is during the cold seasons (approx -22°C to -27°C) with moderately constant levels.
- From Jan to April, there is a steep and steady decrease in temperatures of -3°C to 22°C, as it is the transition between Summer and Winter.
- Comparatively, there is also an increase in temperature from September to December, marking the progression between winter and summer.
- This cold and dry climate is typical of a polar tundra climate.
- Fairly constant and low precipitation throughout the year, ranging from 0mm to 10mm. The climate is extremely dry, with sub zero temperatures ranging from approximately -26°C to -4°C. In the months of April to September, temperatures are extremely low as it is during the cold seasons (approx -22°C to -27°C) with moderately constant levels.
- From Jan to April, there is a steep and steady decrease in temperatures of -3°C to 22°C, as it is the transition between Summer and Winter.
- Comparatively, there is also an increase in temperature from September to December, marking the progression between winter and summer.
- This cold and dry climate is typical of a polar tundra climate.
Yakutsk, Russia
- Cool summers and freezing cold temperatures during winters, rather dry all year round.
- Temperature fluctuates greatly, with drastic increases and decreases (large range of temperature/ huge temperature differences at different times of the year.)
- Winter temperatures of -40°C or even slightly below. Summer temperatures are approx 15°C to 20°C.
- As temperature increases, precipitation generally increases.
- Generally, very low precipitations with peaks at 50mm in July, (summer) and with very low levels of precipitation during winter months.
- This climograph is typical of a polar tundra climate.
- Cool summers and freezing cold temperatures during winters, rather dry all year round.
- Temperature fluctuates greatly, with drastic increases and decreases (large range of temperature/ huge temperature differences at different times of the year.)
- Winter temperatures of -40°C or even slightly below. Summer temperatures are approx 15°C to 20°C.
- As temperature increases, precipitation generally increases.
- Generally, very low precipitations with peaks at 50mm in July, (summer) and with very low levels of precipitation during winter months.
- This climograph is typical of a polar tundra climate.
Yea. That's about it. yunwei