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Laboratory Exercise No. 2

Rainfall Distribution Graph

Detailed knowledge about climatologic data is required for various purposes like analysis
of individual events as well as short- and long-term relationships of these events. In the case of
rainfall, data are analyzed to determine the physical distribution across time and space. A
common method of showing time-distribution of rainfall and any other data is through a graph.
Such plot also shows rainfall pattern, which always vary regionally and seasonally. This pattern is
analyzed for different locations.

In a mathematician's terminology, a graph is a collection of points and lines connecting

some subsets of these points. The points of a graph are most commonly known as graph vertices,
but may also be called nodes or simply points. On the other hand, the lines connecting the
vertices of a graph are most commonly known as graph edges, but may also be called arcs, or
lines.

In this laboratory exercise, a long term empirical rainfall data averaged over a 30-year
period by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) is provided in Appendix Table 1 to work on. These data sets are gathered from the 53
Weather Stations strategically located across the country. To avoid copying from other students’
output and to enhance your learning experience, you will be assigned at random several
PAGASA weather stations to work on.

After accomplishing the required activity, you should be able to:

a. Prepare rainfall distribution line graphs representative of several PAGASA Weather

Stations;

b. Classify according to climate type the area, province, or region where these stations are
located;

c. Identify the period or season for which rice can be grown economically in said area,
province, or region even without supplemental irrigation; and

d. Draw conclusions regarding your findings in Items (b) and (c) above.

1 empirical long-term rainfall data from PAGASA

5 graphing paper
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1 colored pencil
1 ball pen

Step 1 Get/secure from your professor/instructor your assigned PAGASA stations to work
on.

Step 2 Using the graphing paper provided, draw the rainfall distribution graph of your
assigned data set.

Set the axes of the graph – the x-axis as “Month” and the y-axis as “Rainfall Depth.”

Step 3 Determine the highest value of the y-axis and set the appropriate interval.

Examine the highest magnitude of rainfall of your assigned data sets. The highest value will be
the basis in determining the interval of the y-axis.

For example, among the data sets assigned, the highest monthly rainfall magnitude is 830 mm.
Therefore, the highest value of the y-axis should be set a little more than 830 mm, say 850 mm.

Use multiples of 25 mm or 50 mm interval in the y-axis. Note that the graph should not be too
short nor too tall by using the appropriate interval. For ease of comparison, similar graphs should
be used for all data sets assigned to you.

Step 4 Plot the vertices of monthly depths and connect these points by a straight line.

Note that the use of Microsoft Excel software to generate the graph is not allowed in this
exercise.

Step 5 Do the same procedure (Steps 1 to 4) for the other stations.

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Step 6 With reference to both Table 1 and Figure 2 in Module No. 3 (Philippines Climate,
Cropping Pattern and Typhoons), classify your graphs according to climate type.

Step 7 Identify the three to four consecutive months wherein rice can be grown under
rainfed condition.

Months are classified according to the following amount of rainfall:

 > 200 mm per month = “wet” (rice thrives best under this moisture regime)

 100 – 200 mm = “intermediate” (no supplemental irrigation is needed during the 1st and
4th month of the rice growing period)

 < 100 mm = “dry” (needs supplemental irrigation in order to grow rice)

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Due Date: ASAP but not later than ____________________________________.

Penalty for Late Submission: 5 points deduction per day of delay

1. Using the graphing papers provided, prepare the rainfall distribution line graphs of the five
PAGASA Weather Stations in Appendix Table 1 assigned to you. Classify these areas
according to climate type and identify the period or season for which rice can be grown
economically in said areas even without supplemental irrigation.
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PAGASA Station : _____________________

Province : _____________________
Climate Type : _____________________
Rice Growing : ______________________________________________________________________
Months
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PAGASA Station : _____________________

Province : _____________________
Climate Type : _____________________
Rice Growing : ______________________________________________________________________
Months
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PAGASA Station : _____________________

Province : _____________________
Climate Type : _____________________
Rice Growing : ______________________________________________________________________
Months
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PAGASA Station : _____________________

Province : _____________________
Climate Type : _____________________
Rice Growing : ______________________________________________________________________
Months
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PAGASA Station : _____________________

Province : _____________________
Climate Type : _____________________
Rice Growing : ______________________________________________________________________
Months
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(Draw conclusions as to the things you have learned and experienced out of this exercise.)
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Appendix Table 1. Monthly mean rainfall in PAGASA weather stations (mm, n>30 years)
Station Name Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1. Alabat, Quezon 250.2 151.8 127.4 91.9 114.1 182.4 238.9 150.0 253.1 509.7 551.7 636.6 3257.6
2. Ambulong, Batangas 22.7 16.0 21.5 35.0 116.6 228.7 329.6 286.9 255.0 218.4 144.7 92.0 1767.0
3. Appari, Cagayan 95.0 56.5 39.0 40.2 115.7 157.6 181.1 191.1 243.8 295.9 285.5 186.6 1888.1
4. Baguio City 15.2 23.4 46.0 104.1 341.1 475.8 781.9 905.0 570.9 454.3 97.4 26.2 3841.4
5. Baler(Radar) 220.2 179.1 185.0 215.4 329.1 238.8 272.7 164.9 282.1 386.0 368.7 405.9 3247.9
6. Basco, Batanes 130.1 122.1 58.3 47.6 224.6 234.6 223.5 304.6 350.8 281.2 272.0 96.8 2346.2
7. Borongan, Eastern Samar 613.7 345.4 312.6 225.5 207.2 233.4 249.9 146.4 189.9 347.3 508.4 674.8 4054.5
8. Butuan City 318.0 225.0 145.4 109.7 115.5 154.0 143.9 105.6 126.3 178.4 197.9 238.2 2057.8
9. Cabanatuan 16.9 16.6 18.4 47.4 179.1 193.7 371.1 372.0 320.4 186.4 90.0 42.9 1854.9
10. Calapan 112.9 64.7 75.9 116.0 196.4 263.6 253.0 195.4 235.5 326.5 281.0 216.2 2337.1
11. Calayan 170.6 126.2 49.4 58.0 159.2 170.9 209.1 228.4 318.5 375.4 335.1 219.5 2420.3
12. Casiguran 272.5 226.6 203.0 183.0 238.5 225.2 282.8 208.8 280.9 537.4 591.3 495.6 3745.6
13. Catarman 456.7 291.9 234.3 143.9 145.2 195.3 208.2 173.6 210.5 338.4 529.7 628.2 3556.0
14. Catbalogan 240.4 197.4 162.7 118.0 167.8 220.3 274.2 198.3 270.5 305.7 334.9 322.7 2813.1
15. Clark, Pampanga 17.4 18.6 28.4 65.0 221.8 241.2 422.6 429.4 293.1 177.0 78.0 34.2 2026.8
16. Coron 18.5 14.0 15.4 38.1 198.1 360.8 479.9 466.3 447.1 250.8 118.6 74.0 2481.7
17. Cotabato City 88.4 83.9 119.9 146.7 268.5 312.3 325.4 244.8 256.6 285.5 216.3 139.6 2487.8
18. Cuyo 7.4 3.1 19.8 41.6 193.1 327.3 402.9 391.2 341.5 302.8 112.3 52.5 2195.6
19. Daet 266.3 180.1 150.4 131.3 138.5 183.9 237.1 165.4 257.9 496.3 542.9 588.4 3338.4
20. Dagupan City 6.7 10.7 22.2 60.4 209.8 337.9 499.6 581.3 368.4 215.9 53.9 14.1 2380.9
21. Davao City 140.3 109.4 108.4 124.7 158.7 186.7 165.0 170.0 170.4 174.8 138.1 112.6 1759.1
22. Dipolog, Zamboanga Del Sur 129.2 90.4 82.5 103.5 150.9 259.5 216.2 194.5 199.1 291.3 380.9 254.8 2352.9
23. Dumaguete 82.0 61.4 46.3 53.7 81.8 129.7 122.7 110.6 127.3 156.7 138.7 107.3 1218.4
24. General Santos 79.4 59.5 51.4 58.3 75.0 118.1 107.9 91.3 87.8 91.1 75.3 64.6 959.9
25. Guiuan, Eastern Samar 371.3 276.7 218.8 125.7 141.2 185.6 211.5 160.6 177.4 290.0 406.7 440.1 3005.6
26. Hinatuan 776.3 547.6 448.3 318.7 252.9 258.1 218.9 186.7 206.5 270.9 424.9 55.1 4464.9
27. Iba, Zambales 4.1 9.3 19.8 38.1 254.7 519.9 838.1 897.7 559.5 234.2 62.3 13.2 3450.7
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Appendix Table 1. (continued)

Station Name Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Annual
28. Infanta 365.1 253.0 192.3 208.9 197.8 237.2 283.9 189.8 270.7 625.7 594.9 675.8 4105.1
29. Itbayat 156.0 84.6 69.8 57.2 243.7 253.8 269.1 450.0 344.1 299.0 239.1 141.6 2607.9
30. Laoag City 5.3 2.8 6.0 24.8 246.9 312.9 448.2 583.9 415.8 103.3 30.2 2.8 2182.8
31. Legaspi City 311.7 236.4 193.8 171.2 186.6 230.5 259.8 222.5 285.9 333.0 480.3 520.2 3432.1
32. Lumbia Airport 98.9 68.0 49.8 52.6 125.0 212.7 245.6 195.8 219.7 185.9 136.0 113.2 1703.3
33. Maasin 211.3 143.3 114.3 64.2 85.0 127.3 173.6 177.0 213.4 198.3 193.9 2261 1927.7
34. Mactan 105.2 69.6 58.6 48.1 95.0 175.6 192.9 143.5 179.6 194.8 161.9 139.7 1564.5
35. Malaybalay 142.5 106.1 112.5 115.6 224.8 313.5 323.3 294.4 315.7 314.7 176.1 130.7 2569.9
36. Masbate 169.3 101.8 86.9 54.1 118.0 155.7 227.0 178.1 212.6 233.0 254.9 258.9 2050.4
37. Naia, Pasay City 6.8 4.2 4.0 19.0 70.4 265.2 316.7 418.4 255.2 283.4 99.0 28.6 1767.8
38. Port Area, Manila 17.3 14.2 15.8 23.7 147.2 253.5 420.5 432.4 355.1 234.8 121.7 67.4 2103.6
39. Puerto Princesa 36.4 23.7 37.3 54.2 118.4 171.1 153.5 185.4 170.1 216.1 211.0 150.1 1527.3
40. Romblon 99.2 63.4 59.37 68.2 147.3 233.1 260.5 210.3 259.9 320.3 270.1 211.8 2203.9
41. Roxas, Capiz 72.1 49.3 63.7 69.9 144.7 259.0 253.4 202.1 213.5 304.9 239.4 171.3 2043.3
42. Sangley Point, Cavite 16.9 11.1 9.4 18.5 139.1 264.5 422.4 457.52 341.8 224.3 110.5 62.7 2078.4
43. Science Garden, QC 18.5 14.6 24.8 40.4 186.7 316.5 493.3 504.2 451.2 296.6 148.8 78.7 2574.4
44. San Jose, Occ. Mindoro 8.4 11.7 11.1 26.8 170.5 377.7 457.5 475.6 406.7 252.0 106.5 55.9 2360.2
45. Subic Bay, Cubi Point 6.0 4.2 16.1 22.5 416.8 385.7 759.7 753.5 695.8 214.5 81.9 21.9 3378.6
46. Surigao Del Norte 609.4 446.4 326.0 219.1 139.6 142.1 171.1 133.9 171.0 240.7 467.3 585.2 3651.8
47. Tacloban 323.9 238.4 184.4 115.2 144.1 184.6 186.0 160.9 173.7 243.9 318.2 386.0 2659.3
48. Tagbiliran 101.0 79.6 76.6 67.5 81.5 128.2 126.7 116.3 126.5 176.3 178.9 153.6 1412.6
49. Tayabas 163.0 111.4 107.1 109.5 161.2 225.5 273.8 185.1 274.2 494.1 529.7 421.0 3055.8
50. Tuguegarao 32.7 27.3 28.6 47.2 128.2 157.5 195.3 247.1 221.4 298.5 230.0 122.3 1736.2
51. Vigan 3.5 3.9 5.4 16.1 194.5 321.8 536.3 630.3 382.6 143.8 36.3 2.9 2277.4
52. Virac (Radar) 409.5 270.5 215.9 215.2 197.2 234.5 249.6 177.1 244.1 447.0 575.8 640.6 3877.0
53. Virac (Synop) 247.9 149.2 146.4 148.3 149.9 220.5 241.6 162.5 235.3 393.7 450.0 451.8 2996.9
54. Zamboanga 49.7 43.7 56.3 69.0 90.0 149.1 152.6 144.9 144.9 178.9 120.6 66.8 1266.5
Source: Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (2016)
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Clipart Library. (n.d). Agricultural and biosystems engineering [Logo]. Retrieved from
http://clipa.cash/agricultural-biosystems-engineering-logo.html

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. (2016). Average

rainfall over a 30-year period. Diliman, Quezon City: Agency. Retrieved from
http://www1.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/index.php.climate.climatological-normals