Ergograph

An ergograph is a graph that shows a relation between human activities, or agricultural/climate factors, and a seasonal year. The name was coined by Dr. Arthur Geddes of the University of Edinburgh. It can either be a polar coördinate (circular) or a cartesian coördinate (rectangular) graph, and either a line graph or a bar graph.[1][2][3]

This graph of the climate of Weymouth over the cycle of the year is a cartesian form ergograph.

In cartesian form, the X axis is marked for the months of the year, and the Y axis is marked with the scale(s) of the activity/activities.[1][2] For example, in the ergograph to the right, the Y axis is marked with both temperature and rainfall/sunshine scales.

In polar form, the months of the year are marked around the circumference, forming 30° sectors. Concentric lines display the proportions of time (in hours per day) devoted to each of the activities. The time scale, ranging from 0 to 24 hours per day, is along the radius of the circle, and is a square root scale.[1][2] This form of an ergograph is also known as a polar line graph or (because the data form "bands" on the graph) a polar strata graph or polar layer graph, the "polar" denoting the system of polar coordinates used on the graph.[3]

Ergographs can record human activities or agricultural/climate information, such as rainfall, temperature, humidity, crop types, and crop acreage.[1][2]

References

1. Rameshwar Prasad Misra and A. Ramesh (1989). Fundamentals of cartography (2nd ed.). Concept Publishing Company. p. 438. ISBN 9788170222224.
2. Francis John Monkhouse (2007). "A Dictionary of Geography, Second Edition". A Dictionary of Geography (2nd ed.). Aldine Transaction. p. 127. ISBN 9780202361314.
3. Graham T. Richardson (1985). Illustrations. Humana Press. pp. 49–50. ISBN 9780896030701.

Further reading

• Institute of British Geographers (1950). Transactions and Papers — Institute of British Geographers. G. Philip (16–19): 2, 184. Missing or empty |title= (help)