Climate lab

Name_________________________ Climate Lab

OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this lab, the student should be able to:

· Plot climate data on a climograph form.

· Identify Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s Koppen – Geiger climate type.

· Determine the Koppen – Geiger climate type for various locations using the information plotted on climographs.

INTRODUCTION:

Climographs are graphic representations of climate data that allow for easier interpretation of climate statistics. For this activity, you will plot Harrisburg Pennsylvania’s average monthly temperatures and average monthly precipitation totals on the form provided. For the monthly average temperatures plot the temperature values and then connect the points to create a line graph. For the precipitation data, create bar graphs extending up from the bottom of the form.

After you have completed the Harrisburg climograph, answer the following questions.

1] What is the overall pattern of Harrisburg’s rainfall distribution with respect to the seasons?

2] What is Harrisburg’s climate type in the Koppen-Geiger system of climate classification?

3] What percentage of Harrisburg’s annual rainfall is recorded in the four warmest months? (To calculate this, divide the sum of the monthly precipitation amounts for the four warmest months by the annual total.)

4] How would the climograph for Harrisburg differ in appearance if Harrisburg were located in the Southern Hemisphere? Use the form below to make a rough sketch to illustrate your answer.

5] Can you identify and name any actual locations in the Southern Hemisphere that share the same climate type as Harrisburg?

Climate Data for Harrisburg Pennsylvania

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Temp oF	41.8	42.0	52.6	65.8	76.5	81.7	84.0	84.1	69.6	61.8	43.0	34.5	2007
Precip “	3.4	4.43	3.21	3.06	1.24	3.77	4.51	3.97	3.62	3.01	3.15	2.98

PART TWO: IDENTIFYING CLIMATE TYPES

Use your textbook or other resources to find the following locations and determine their Koppen – Geiger climate classification.

Climate ____________ Climate ____________

Climate ____________ Climate ____________

Climate ____________ Climate ____________

Used with permission from IUP alumni labs, Paul Prince

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