A climograph combines a line graph of mean monthly temperature with a bar graph of total monthly precipitation. These graphs are useful in analyzing climate statistics to determine the climate classification.

A Climates

Description: tropical wet (Af) [tropical rainforest]--hot humid wet all year-- > 2.4" (6 cm) per month; MONOTONOUSNote: The high temperature with little variation and notable precipitation every month.

Description: tropical monsoonal (Am)--short dry season, very wet rainy season with high concentration in a few months--at least one month under 2.4" (6 cm)Note: The high temperature with little to small amounts of variation and a short time with low precipitation but excessively heavy precipitation for part of the year that compensates for the short drought period.

Description: tropical savannah (Aw)--hot, humid but dry season in winter and longer;--at least one month under 2.4" (6 cm)--most extensive A climateNote: The high temperatures with a small variation and a dry season without a very heavy period compensating for the dry season.

B Climates

Description: low latitude desert (BWh) [subtropical]--between 0 and 15" precipitation average annual temperature is over 64.4 0F (18 0C)--SCARCE; UNRELIABLE; INTENSE PRECIPITATIONNote: The very low amounts of precipitation and the high temperatures.

Description: midlatitude desert (BWk) [high latitude]--between 0 and 10" precipitation and average temperature under 64.4 0FNote: The low amount of precipitation and the middle ranging temperatures.

Description: low latitude steppe (BSh) [subtropical]--between 15 and 30" precipitation and average annual temperature over 64.4F (18C)Note: The lack of precipitation and the high temperatures.

Description: mid latitude steppe (BSk) [middle latitude]--between 10 and 20" precipitation and average annual temperature under 64.4 0F (18 0C)Note: The lack of precipitation and the middle ranging temperatures.

C Climates

Description: humid subtropical (Cfa, Cwa)--hot summer, mild winter; may be dry winter; warmest month averages above 71.6 0F (22 0C) and coldest month averages less than 64.4 0F (18 0C) but greater than 32 0F (0 0C)Note: The middle temperature range with no month below freezing and notable precipitation every month.

Description: marine west coast (Cfb, Cfc)-ocean current moderates, mild summer and winter; warmest month averages below 71.6F (22C) and coldest month averages less than 64.4F (18C) but greater than 32F (0C) Note: The middle temperatures with a limited amount of variation and the wet conditions.

Description: mediterranean (Csa, Csb)--warm, dry summer, mild, moist winter or hot summer has drought, winter precipitation but not freezing; sometimes known as dry (summer) subtropical; coldest month averages less than 64.4F (18C) but greater than 32F (0C) difference is the summer droughtNote: The middle temperatures with a DROUGHT during the high sun season (summer)

D Climates

Description: humid continental (Dfa, Dfb, Dwa, Dwb)--cold winter, warm summer, precipitation all year; at least four months average over 50F (10C) and coldest month averages below 32F (0C)Note: The lower temperatures with temperatures below freezing and notable precipitation all months.

Description: subarctic (Dfc, Dfd, Dwc, Dwd)--cold and snow, three or less months average over 50F (10C)--WINTER--taiga, boreal; GREATEST RANGENote: The large range of temperature with temperatures below freezing some months and notable precipitation all months.

E Climates

Description: tundra (ET)--cold, low-growing shrubs and herbs; one month averages above 32F (0C) but less than 50F (10C); but all average below 50F--TREE LINE; permafrostNote: The cold temperatures with temperatures only reaching above freezing and not to 50 and the lack of precipitation because of these cold temperatures.

Description: ice cap (EF)--all months average below 32F (0C); ice and snow covered--(Greenland, Antarctica); LOWEST TEMPERATURENote: The very cold temperatures and the lack of precipitation because of these cold temperatures.

F or H Climate

Description: highland (H or F)--altitude, exposure (sun and wind), CHANGABILITYNote: Highland climates are noted for an anomaly in the appearance of the climograph. Because higher elevations have a lower average temperature and a greater range in temperatures as well as experiencing the orographic effects of precipitation, the typical patterns appear disrupted. In this example, the temperatures are fairly uniform but at a cooler temperature than the typical uniform equatorial hot temperatures.