(Figure A.4).

In this case, the graph projects the rate

of future human population growth as a function of an Graph Types
estimated fertility rate and includes a probability range
likely to include the actual future human population LEARNING OBJECTIVES
size. Also note that because it is not clear without further 1. Explain the difference between continuous and
explanation, the y-axis title on this graph includes the discrete data.
measurement unit (billions) portrayed along this axis. 2. Distinguish among the following types of graphs:
Figure A.4 line graph, bar graph, and pie chart.
cientists use different types of graphs to visu-
11

S
alize and interpret different kinds of data.

Based on data from World Population Prospects, The 2015 Revision, United Nations Population Division
Range of population Continuous data can take on an infinite
projection with number of values within a given range, and
10
95 percent likelihood
Measurement are usually associated with measurable variables such as
unit temperature or length. For example, there are an infinite
9
Medium 9.7 number of measureable temperatures between 45 and
46 degrees Celsius and lengths between 45 and 46 meters
8 (45.12, 45.593, etc.). In contrast, discrete data may only
assume a finite number of distinct values, and are usually
Human population (billions)

7 associated with variables that are counted, such as

the number of people within a given area or the number
6 of trees in the forest (you can’t count 45.12 people or
Future 45.593 trees).
projection
One of the most common graph types is a line graph
5
in which one or more lines connect a series of data points
together. Line graphs are used when the y-axis portrays
4 continuous numeric data and the x-axis portrays either
continuous numeric data or discrete categorical data
3 that form a sequential series such as months or years. For
example, the line graph below (Figure A.5) shows how
the number of Earths needed to absorb humanity’s eco-
2
logical footprint has increased over the past five decades.
Note that we can determine the time our collective foot-
1 print overshot Earth’s capacity by finding the point on
the x-axis that corresponds to the point at which this line
exceeds the 1.0 value on the y-axis (around 1988).
1800 1900 2000 2050
Year Figure A.5 • Line Graph
2.0
Based on data from World Wildlife Fund,
Number of planet Earths

1.5

1. What are data? What is a variable?

Living Planet Report, 2014.

2. Explain the difference between a dependent and an 1.0

independent variable. Global ecological

overshoot
3. Draw your own graph and include and label 0.5
each of the following components: x-axis, y-axis,
0
title, caption, legend, future projection, and the 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
measurement units of the x- and y-axes. Year

466 VISUALIZING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

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