As a Sales Data Analyst, which type of chart would be appropriate to show total quarterly sales and contributions of each salesperson over three years?

A stacked area chart is particularly appropriate for displaying total quarterly sales while also showing the contributions of each salesperson over a specified time period, such as three years. This type of chart allows for the visualization of the overall sales trends, highlighting both the aggregate figures and individual contributions in a way that emphasizes how different salespersons contribute to overall performance over time.

With a stacked area chart, the area under the curve represents the total quarterly sales, while distinct segments within that area can represent each salesperson's contributions. This makes it easy to see both the total sales trend and how each salesperson's performance changes or influences the totals across the quarters. Additionally, this format helps to visualize changes over time effectively and comprehend the dynamics among different contributors, making patterns and discrepancies more visible.

The other options may not effectively convey both total and individual contributions over time. For example, a pie chart is typically used for displaying percentages of a whole at a single point in time and does not effectively represent time-series data. Similarly, while line charts and bar charts can show trends over time, they don't inherently show individual contributions to the total in a stacked format. Thus, the stacked area chart stands out as the most suitable choice for this analysis.