How to Make a Climatogram Using Excel

How to Make a Climatogram Using Excel
(10 pts. extra credit for each climatogram)
As you know two abiotic factors that determine the makeup of a biome are temperature and
precipitation. A climatogram is one type of chart that shows both temperature and precipitation
on one graph. Your extra credit assignment is to make 3 climatograms using Excel.
Each climatogram is worth 10 points extra credit for a total possible of 30 extra credit points.
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To begin:
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Superscript
1. Open Microsoft Excel.
2. Make three climatograms: Las Vegas, Nevada, Iquitos Peru, and one for your zip code.
3. Begin entering the data (from the data sheet on page 7) for Las Vegas, Nevada as follows:
Like this:
Month
J
F
Complete the remainder of the
chart
Precipitation (cm)
1.4
1.2
Complete the remainder of the
chart
Temperature (ºC)
7.5
10.6
Complete the remainder of
the chart
4. Once your data is inputted, you are ready to graph the data.
5. Highlight all (and only) the cells you just typed -- include the headings.
The data on this chart is
not for Las Vegas,
Nevada.
This is just merely an
example of what you are
to do.
6. Click on the Chart Wizard icon (It looks like a small bar graph with red, blue, and yellow bars.).
7. Choose Custom Types.
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8. Choose line-column on 2 axes.
9. Choose Next.
10. Choose Next.
11. Give the chart a Title,
12. Label the:
--X-axis (Months)
--Y-axis (Precipitation),
--Second Value Y-axis
(Temperature).
13.Note, the bars should be
precipitation, and the line
should be temperature.
14. Choose Next.
15. Choose Finish.
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16. Once the chart has been formed in your table, double click on the left Y-axis numbers (Double
click where you see the cursor in the chart below.)
The data on this chart is
not for Las Vegas – use
the data from the data
chart.
17. Click on Scale at the top.
18. Change the scale to MINIMUM = 0.
19. MAXIMUM = 36.
20. MAJOR UNIT = 2.
21. MINOR UNIT = 1.
22. Click OK.
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23. Double click on the right Y-axis numbers.
(Double click where you see the cursor in the
chart on the right.)
24. Click on Scale at the top.
25. Change the scale to MINIMUM = -36.
26. MAXIMUM = 36.
27. MAJOR UNIT = 4.
28. MINOR UNIT = 1.
29. Click OK.
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30. Now you need to resize your chart so that all your charts are the same size.
31. Click on the outer edge of the graph. Eight black boxes will appear around the outside edge of the
graph. Go to one at the corner, click and hold on that box. Drag the graph out until it is approximately
9 columns wide by 30 rows long.
32. Copy and paste your climatogram into a Microsoft Word document
33. Under each graph, write a description of this biome. Use your textbook or go to
www.enchantedlearning.com.
34. As a part of your description of each biome include one example of how an animal or plant is
specifically adapted to living in that particular biome.
35. Repeat steps 3– 34 for the second climatogram on Iquitos, Peru. What biome do you think this city
is located in?
36. Do the 3rd climatogram for your own zip code.
37. Go to www.weather.com on the Internet.
38. Enter your zip code and click Go.
39. Click on Averages and then scroll down the page and click on Show this page in Metric Units.
(Because the weather site gives the precipitation in millimeters. You will need to convert the
millimeters into centimeters -- for this chart only.)
40. Make a 3rd climatogram using the data (use average high) for your zip code.
41. Copy and paste the Weather Facts about Your Zip Code under the climatogram for your zip code
42. Print out your 3 climatograms and turn them in to me for 30 points extra credit.
43. Turn in -- on or before – October 24, 2006
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An example:
36
34
32
30
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
36
32
28
24
20
16
12
8
4
0
-4
-8
-12
-16
-20
-24
-28
-32
-36
J
F M A M
J
J
A
Temperature (oC)
Precipitation (cm)
Los Angeles: Chaparral Biome
Precipitation (cm)
Temperature (oC)
S O N D
Months
The chaparral is a shrubby coastal area that has hot dry summers and mild, cool, rainy winters. Chaparrals
consist of regions of tall, dense shrubs with leathery leaves or needles; the shrubs are interspersed with some
woodland (scrub oak). The total annual rainfall in a chaparral ranges from 15 to 40 inches per year (38-100 cm).
The word chaparral comes from "chaparro," which means scrub oak in Spanish. Chaparrals are also called
Mediterranean scrub, shrublands, or scrublands.
Chaparrals are located in bands between 30 and 40 degrees N and 30 and 40 degrees S of the equator. These
coastal regions have cold ocean currents offshore; they are coasts that face west. They occur in the southern
coast of California (USA), the coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea, the coast of Chile (South America), the
Cape region of South Africa, and coastal Australia.
Many animals live in chaparrals, including invertebrates, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. The
different chaparrals of the world support different populations of organisms that have all adapted to long dry
spells and frequent fires.
Chaparral plants are adapted to living in long, dry summers. They have many tricks to surviving the hot weather,
including waxy, curled leaves that reduce evaporation of precious moisture. Many of California’s chaparral
plants go dormant in the summer to avoid the drought-stress. Likewise many of the wildflowers only germinate
on wet years. Many of the plants also share moisture and nutrition by connecting their roots to one
another through the intermediary of friendly fungi called mycorrhizae. The mycorrhizae increase the
ability of the plants to absorb water up to 2000X and provide a soil community that supports friendly
bacteria, nematodes, springtails, earthworms, etc. while discouraging herbivores and harmful bacteria.
Interesting Facts:
On average, the warmest month is August.
The highest recorded temperature was 44°C in 1990.
On average, the coolest month is January.
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The lowest recorded temperature was -4°C in 1944.
The most precipitation on average occurs in February.
Data Table for Extra Credit Assignment
Las Vegas, Nevada
Name of Biome:
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
P(cm) 1.4 1.2 1.3 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.9 1.3 0.7 0.6 1.1
1
T(°C) 7.5 10.6 13.5 17.8 23.3 29.3 32.8 31.5 26.9 20.1 12.7 7.6
Iquitos, Peru
Name of Biome:
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
P(cm) 25.8 24.9 31 16.5 25.4 18.8 16.8 11.7 22.1 18.3 21.3 29.2
T(°C)
25.6 25.6 24.4 25 24.4 23.3 23.3 24.4 24.4 25 25.6 25.6
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