The document provides information about interpreting climate graphs and describes the climate of Leeds, England based on average monthly rainfall and temperature data. It discusses how to represent climate data in a graph with bars for rainfall and a line for temperature. The climate of Leeds is described as having an average annual rainfall of 653 mm, an average annual temperature of 9°C, and a temperature range of 13°C from January/February to July/August. Rainfall is highest in August at 66 mm and lowest in February at 41 mm, while temperatures are coldest in January/February at 3°C and warmest in July/August at 16°C.

1. . Starter: Look at the climate map of the British Isles. Where is the best place to live? Why?

2. Climate graphs In the exam you will have to: Interpret climate graphs to describe the climate of an area You don’t need to be able to draw a climate graph

3. The average temperature in March is 6 °C The average rainfall in September is 51 mm 1. Calculate the total annual rainfall? 2. Calculate the average annual temperature? 3. Calculate the temperature range? The table below shows the climate data for Leeds . Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average monthly Rainfall (mm) 56 41 46 46 48 53 51 66 51 51 53 53 Average monthly Temperature (°C) 3 3 6 7 11 14 16 16 13 10 6 4

4. But how do you represent the data above in the form of a graph? The blue bars show average rainfall The red line is the average temperature Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average monthly Rainfall (mm) 56 41 46 46 48 53 51 66 51 51 53 53 Average monthly Temperature (°C) 3 3 6 7 11 14 16 16 13 10 6 4

5. Interpreting a climate graph The maximum rainfall is 66 mm and the minimum is 41 mm – a range of 25 mm. The driest month is February when an average of 41 mm of rain falls. The wettest month is August when an average of 66 mm of rain falls The maximum temperature is 16 °C and the minimum is 3°C – a range of 13°C. The coldest months are January and February with an average monthly temperature of 3 °C. The temperature peaks in July and August with an average of 16 °C. Remember to describe the TRENDS , then minimum and maximum values. Question 4: Describe the CLIMATE of Leeds

6. Examiners tips when describing climate graphs: Climate means average temperature and rainfall State the maximum and minimum values of each Describe the CHANGE throughout the year Use figures from the graph: months, temperature, rainfall Use the units of measurement! – mm and o C

7. L A D O L Latitude A Altitude D Distance from the sea O Ocean Currents

8. L atitude

9. A ltitude

10. 200m – 8 o C 1100m – -1 o C 800m – 2 o C

11. Prevailing Winds

12. Polar Maritime

13. Tropical Maritime

14. Polar continental

15. Tropical continental

16. Distance from the sea

17. Ocean Currents

19. Look back at the climate maps of Britain on page 78 Explain the patterns` shown. Can you do the same for selected global climates? (Page 88)