Temperature, Rainfall,
and Biome Distribution Lab
You will find below six examples of climatograms, grids on which averages of precipitation and temperature at a particular location are plotted together. These climatograms show variations in only two important climatic factors during a year. Other factors may greatly affect climate, but a climatogram does give a rough idea of climate in the location from which the data were obtained.
Purpose:
This exercise provides practice in associating climate (as expressed in monthly averages of precipitation and temperature) with biomes.Biomes are closely associated with climate. You can easily associate the climate of your own locality with the biome found there. Only by extensive travel, however, can the close relationship of particular climates with particular biomes be learned on a worldwide basis. This exercise is a poor substitue for such travel; but if it is carried out thoughtfully and with frequent reference to the description of biomes in the text, it can help you understand the biological relationships that make up the diversity of the biotic communities found on land.
Materials:
Blank climatogram sheets, temperature/precipitation data
Procedure:
Graph the climate figures for precipitation and temperature for the four locales in Group 1. Combined with the six climatograms given as examples, you now have ten climatograms representing ten different biomes found worldwide. Be sure that you label each with it's biome name. Also be extremely careful as to how you record the information. All temperature readings are measured on the right side of the climatogram! All precipitation measurements are on the left side of the climatogram! Be sure to draw line a graph for temperature and a bar graph for precipitation.
Now graph the information for San Francisco. Then compare the climatogram for San Francisco with the ten knowns. What biome is San Francisco found in? If needed estimate for a best-fit guess. Answer the questions at the end of this exercise.
 |
Graph the climate figures for precipitation and temperature for the four locales in Group 1 onto your blank climatogram sheets (ex. on left). Be sure that you label each with it's biome name. Also be extremely careful as to how you record the information. All temperature readings are measured on the right side of the climatogram! All precipitation measurements are on the left side of the climatogram! Be sure to draw line a graph for temperature and a bar graph for precipitation. |
Group 1
Cuiaba, Brazil: Tropical Deciduous Forest
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D
|
| P: |
24.9 |
21.1 |
21.1 |
10.2 |
5.3 |
0.8 |
0.5 |
2.8 |
5.1 |
11.4 |
15 |
20.6
|
| T: |
27.2 |
27.2 |
27.2 |
26.6 |
25.6 |
23.9 |
24.4 |
25.6 |
27.8 |
27.8 |
27.8 |
27.2
|
Santa Monica, California: Chaparral
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D
|
| P: |
8.9 |
7.6 |
7.4 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.3 |
1.5 |
3.5 |
5.8 |
| T: |
11.7 |
11.7 |
12.8 |
14.4 |
15.6 |
17.2 |
18.9 |
18.3 |
18.3 |
16.7 |
14.4 |
12.8 |
Moshi,Tanganyika: Tropical Grassland
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
| P: |
3.6 |
6.1 |
9.2 |
40.1 |
30.2 |
5.1 |
5.1 |
2.5 |
2 |
3 |
8.1 |
6.4 |
| T: |
23.3 |
23.2 |
22.2 |
21.1 |
19.8 |
18.4 |
17.9 |
18.4 |
19.8 |
21.4 |
22 |
22.4 |
Aden, Aden: Tropical Dessert
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
| P: |
0.8 |
0.5 |
1.3 |
0.45 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
| T: |
24.6 |
25.1 |
26.4 |
28.5 |
30.6 |
31.9 |
31.1 |
30.3 |
31.1 |
28.8 |
26.5 |
25.1 |
Combined with the six climatograms given as examples (see below), you now have ten climatograms representing ten different biomes found worldwide.
San Francisco
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
| P: |
4.5 |
2.8 |
2.6 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
1.1 |
2.5 |
3.5 |
| T: |
13.0 |
15.0 |
16.0 |
17.0 |
17.0 |
19.0 |
18.0 |
18.0 |
21.0 |
20.0 |
17.0 |
14.0 |
Answer the following questions:
Examination of the San Francisco Biome:
1. Which of the known biome climatograms closely resembles San Francisco?
- a. In what ways were they similar?
- b. In what ways were they different?
- c. Would you consider them to truly be the same biome? Explain?
- d. During the thirty year period used for the figures in the San Francisco climatogram there were four drought periods. How would this effect the appearence of the climatogram?
Examination of the known biomes:
2. How are the Tundra and Desert similar? different?
- a. Similar-
- b. Different-
3. How are the Tropical Rain and Tropical Deciduous Forests similar? different?
- a. Similar-
- b. Different-
4. Lawrence, Kansas and Nashville, Tennessee occupy similar latitudes. Why is one found in a grassland and the other in a forest biome?
5. Considering that the information in your climatograms is presented on a monthly basis, How would you determine which biomes are located in the southern hemisphere?
6. Which biome has the:
- a. most rainfall-
- b. least rainfall-
- c. the highest ave. temperature-
- d. the lowest ave. temperature-
- e. most consisitant year round temperature-
- f. most variable year round temperature-
Last modified 1/30/07