Does climate graphs always have to start with 0?

Question

I made a graph and i started with 0 then i made a zig zag line and went straight to 16 then 17 then 18 etc.

Is this still correct?

Answer 1

If you are graphing the average temperature for each month, as you do with Climatic graphs, NO you don't start at zero. The reason for this is that -When you draw the graph from Jan to Dec for the year Jan id preceded by Dec and Dec is followed by Jan. You have a continual succession of months.

The "zig zag" should be a smooth curve, if this is possible.

Answer 2

No, you don't have to start with zero.  For example, most plots of carbon dioxide levels start at much higher levels than that (see http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/globalchange/... You want the range you pick for your plot to cover the range of interest, and there is no reason that zero has to be on there.