Environmental Chemistry Chem189

8/30/16

Vanessa Olga J. Dagondon

BS Chemistry IV

Monthly Temperature and Rainfall in Davao City

(January, April, July, and October 2000 2015)

Temperature and rainfall are considered to be the most important climatological

elements in the Philippines. The characteristic temperature of the Philippines is responsible for
its tropical climate while the distribution of rainfall gives way to a definite subdivision of climates
within a characteristic tropical climate (Jose Coronas, 1920). In this paper, the average
temperatures and rainfall of the months January, April, July and October from the year 2000
2015 in Davao City were plotted as a bar graphs. Observable trends and changes that pertaining
global warming and climate change will be discussed.

32.5
32
31.5
31
30.5
30
29.5
29
28.5

APRIL
35

Temperature (oC

Temperature (oC)

JANUARY
34
33
32
31
30
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Year

Year

JULY

OCTOBER
Temperature (oC

Temperature (oC

32.5
32
31.5
31
30.5
30
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Year

33.5
33
32.5
32
31.5
31
30.5
30
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Year

Figure 1. Average temperatures of months January, April, July, October against year 2000
2015 (http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/).

Environmental Chemistry Chem189

8/30/16

Most places in the Philippines have a tropical rainforest climate. That said, most areas in
the Philippines including Davao City, have a hot and humid weather throughout most of the year.
The warmest months of the year are from March to October. From November to February, the
winter monsoon brings cooler air. May is said to be the warmest month while January is the
coolest (R. L. Kintanar, 1984).
From Figure 1, we can see that the temperature in January is indeed the lowest compared
to the other months shown in the figure. This is followed by April, October and July. In January,
the drastic changes in the temperature can be observed especially at the year 2014 2015. In
April, the temperature from 2000 2008 showed a slow increasing and decreasing pattern. In
2012, the temperature begins to increase and in 2015 it hit the highest temperature for the last
decade. For July, the observed temperature for years 2013 2015 are the high compared to the
last years. In October, it is observed that since 2002, the temperature kept on increasing up until
2015.

JANUARY

APRIL
250

Precipitate (mm)

Precipitate (mm)

500
400
300
200
100
0

200
150
100
50
0

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Year

Year

JULY

OCTOBER
400

Precipitate (mm)

Precipitate (mm)

250
200
150
100
50
0

300
200
100
0

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Year

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

Year

Figure 2. Average precipitate of months January, April, July, October against year 2000 2015
(http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/).

Environmental Chemistry Chem189

8/30/16

Rainfall in the Philippines is expected every month although rainfall differs greatly
throughout the year. The rainy season of the Philippines starts from June October due to the
southwest monsoon (R. L. Kintanar, 1984). In figure 2, it is observed that the month with the most
rainfall is January, followed by October, July and then April. In January, it is observed that from
the year 2013 up until 2015, the rainfall or precipitate reached its highest point. For April, it is
observed that in year 2011, the rainfall reached its highest peak and then it drastically lowered
down in 2012. For July, drastic change is observed in 2012 when the rainfall lowered in 2013 and
lowered some more in 2014. For October, drastic changes are also observed especially in years
2006 2012.
From the data gathered, climate change is indeed observable. Constant and drastic
changes in temperatures and rainfall are seen and are felt by the majority of the Filipinos.
Extreme temperatures and rainfall are now felt in the community. The temperature rise all
thought out the decade is an evidence of global warming. These environmental problems might
not be reversible but if we can start doing something about this, we might be able to stop it from
deteriorating.

References
City Forecast. (n.d.). Retrieved August 29, 2016, from http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/
Climate in the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved August 29, 2016, from
http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/climate1.htm
Coronas, Jose. (1920). The Climate and Weather of the Philippines, 1903 1918. Manila
Observatory: Bureau of Philippines.
Kintanar, R. L. (1984). Climate of the Philippines. PAGASA.