High school biology worksheet
BIOL200-32 Climatogram Info Page 1
Climatograms
Climatograms In this exercise you will learn what climatograms are and how to interpret them. You will also construct and interpret a number of climatograms.
Climatograms summarize monthly measurements of only two climatic factors: temperature and precipitation. Other factors can also greatly affect climate but the climatogram does give a reasonable indication of the climate for the location where the data was gathered.
Since there is a distinct association between the climate and the biome found in any one region, you can, through daily observation, become familiar with this association. On a world-wide basis it would be quite time consuming to learn about this association between climate and biome for all the biomes of the world. Consequently we must rely on climatograms and descriptions of the biota to learn this association.
A climatogram is a graph that summarizes two variables, temperature and precipitation. Precipitation is represented by a bar graph while temperature is represented by a line graph. These two forms of graphing are used so that one variable can easily be distinguished from the other. Look at the two examples:
BIOL200-32 Climatogram Info Page 2
Climatograms
Use the following procedures to prepare your own climatograms: 1. The monthly temperature averages are plotted on the climatogram from the
temperature data (in degrees Celsius) for each location. Use the scale shown on the right hand side of the graph. The points representing each monthly average should be at the mid-month position. Once you have plotted the points for all 12 months they should be joined by a line.
2. The monthly precipitation averages are plotted on the climatogram from the precipitation data (in centimetres) for each location. Use the scale shown on the left hand side of the graph to plot the point for each monthly average on the graph. For each point, draw a line the width of the bar. Shade in all bars to make them stand out.
3. Label your climatogram giving name of the location where the data was collected and the biome.
BIOL200-32 Climatogram Info Page 3
Climatograms
Use the following data to interpret the climatograms you will prepare: 1. The hemisphere, northern or southern, in which an ecosystem is found can be
determined by interpreting the line on the climatogram that represents the temperature. A line showing the highest temperatures in June and July and the lowest temperatures in December and January would indicate a biome in the northern hemisphere. If these temperatures were reversed for the stated times of year the biome would be in the southern hemisphere.
2. The latitude of an ecosystem can also be determined by interpreting the temperature line on a graph. Ecosystems that are equatorial show very little or no seasonal fluctuation in temperature. Generally speaking, as you move farther north or south of the equator, the difference between the summer high temperature and the winter low temperature becomes more extreme. Also, because the amount of solar radiation received as you move away from the equator decreases, the average annual temperature decreases.
3. The biome can sometimes be determined by comparing temperature and precipitation. Plants need a constant supply of water and temperatures above freezing in order to be actively growing. Near the equator, average temperatures are always high enough to maintain plant growth but water can act as a limiting factor. High temperatures and low precipitation will lead to a water deficit due to evaporation of water. When these conditions occur, plants will die or exist in a dormant state. Thus at equatorial latitudes we can find biomes that range from continuously wet tropical rain forests, to seasonally wet deciduous forests, to fairly dry savanna, to very dry deserts.
At middle and northern latitudes, both precipitation and temperature can act as limiting factors. High summer temperatures and low precipitation can lead to a water deficit, thus affecting the kinds of plants and animals found. As well, average minimum temperatures must be above freezing if plant growth is to occur. Below this temperature, plants either die or become dormant. Consequently at mid-latitudes we find middle latitude rain forests (coniferous), middle latitude deciduous forests, taiga chaparral, grasslands and deserts.
4. Some of the factors that can influence the type of biome present in an area which cannot be determined by reading a climatogram are:
a) proximity to large bodies of water (ocean, lakes) b) direction of prevailing wind c) altitude (mountains - complex zonation).