Climate Graphs

What’s the Climate Like Where You Live?

The steps you need to follow are indicated by "bullets"!

You can make climate graphs either by going directly to the Climograph-Maker of by going to the TN Map Viewer.

Print this page out to use as a guide!

How to Make Climate Graphs by Going Directly to the Climograph-Maker:

On the Special Habitats Homepage, look in the Menu on the left side of the page.

Click on Climograph-Maker.

The Climograph Maker can create two graphs at once. For example, let’s look at Chattanooga’s climate.

In each of the "selection menus" marked Station, click in the "menu box" or click on the "menu button" and select Chattanooga from the list of stations.

Now let’s look at our choices of data. Click on the "menu button" for one of the "selection menus" marked Data to Graph. Read the choices.

You can graph monthly average temperature or monthly average precipitation. Most “weathermen” report the “30-year average” for the years 1971 through 2000. Let’s do that, too.

From one menu, choose Monthly Average Temperatures 1971-2000. From the other menu, choose Monthly Average Precipitation 1971-2000.

Click on View Graph.

Junior Naturalist Challenge:

Now that you know how to create graphs, what kinds of inquiry questions can you answer by making new graphs?

Think of a question, make a prediction, and then create the graphs.

Was your prediction accurate?

Here’s a question to get you started:

How did Chattanooga and Memphis compare in terms of Average Temperatures during the years 1971-2000?

I predict that Memphis was generally hotter in the summer than Chattanooga was.

Make the graphs and see if my prediction is accurate.

How to Make Climographs by Using the TN Map Viewer:

On the Special Habitats Homepage, look in the Menu on the left side of the page.

Click on TN Map Viewer.

Look at the list of Layers on the right hand side of the page.

Click on Climate Station. (These are often called Weather Stations.)

Look right below the map and make sure it says Climate Station is now the Active Layer.

Look at the set of icons in the upper left hand corner of the page.

To Identify the Weather Stations Shown on the Map:

Click on the Identify Tool. (The black dot with an “i” on it.)

Move your mouse so that the “pointer” is right over a blue dot on the map and then click.

Below the map you will see the name of the weather station.

To View Climate Graphs for Specific Stations:

Go back to the list of icons and this time click on the Hyperlink Tool. (The icon that looks like a lightning bolt.)

Now click on one of the stations.

Last updated on January 9, 2006