Comparative Analysis of Data Visualization Techniques for Rainfall Data

Abstract

Rainfall data is essential for applications such as climate monitoring, agricultural planning, flood forecasting, and water resource management. However, the interpretation of this data is often hindered by its high volume, variability, and multi-scale temporal nature. Effective visualization is critical not only for summarizing complex datasets but also for uncovering patterns, detecting anomalies, and facilitating informed decision-making. Despite the availability of numerous visualization techniques, selecting the most suitable method for rainfall data, especially across varying temporal resolutions is a challenging task.  This study presents a comparative analysis of widely used data visualization techniques in the context of rainfall data. The methodology was structured into three phases: understanding the nature of rainfall data, reviewing relevant visualization techniques, and conducting a comparative content analysis. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) evaluation was used to assess each technique’s analytical potential, while a temporal suitability comparison was performed across five time granularities: yearly, monthly, weekly, daily, and hourly. Findings show that no single technique is universally effective. Instead, each method demonstrates specific strengths and limitations depending on the temporal scale and analytical objective. Line charts and bar charts are well-suited for lower-frequency data, while heat maps and scatter plots are more effective for high-resolution, time-sensitive patterns. Box plots and histograms provide valuable insights into data distribution and variability, whereas map-based visualizations excel in spatial analysis but require enhancements for temporal exploration. The study concludes that visualization effectiveness depends on aligning method selection with data characteristics and analytical goals. A thoughtful combination of techniques is often necessary to achieve clarity, reduce misinterpretation, and enhance decision support in rainfall data analysis.