There's a temperature graph going around the blogosphere claiming to represent the temperature trend in Yosemite National Park since 1900. Climate science denialist types love this graph because it seems to indicate no warming in Yosemite, as if that represents the whole state or something.
Besides, consider Yosemite National Park, it comprises some 1,169 square miles - (3,027 km2) with an elevation range from 2,127 to 13,114 feet (648 to 3,997 m) on both sides of the Sierra Nevada mountain divide. Vegetation zones start with chaparral oakwoodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone, all the way up to alpine. Seemed odd that anyone would claim a single graph from YNP as some definitive statement on the situation within the park, let alone beyond.
I thought they rejected appeals to authority?
I share their response:
{I added paragraph breaks for clarity}
WRCC Data <wrcc@dri.edu> December 1, 2014
"Hello,
This is not one of our graphs and I’m not exactly sure where this data was recorded.
The official coop station Yosemite Park Headquarters began collecting temperature data in 1907 and this graph began in 1900. There are several issues with this graph - spelling for starters, we would also reference the WRCC so others could contact us if there was a question and these numbers are off.
Looking at the data, these numbers and years are not correct. For example, the average annual max temperature occurred in 1926, not 1930-something as the graph displays..
I’m sorry, I cannot help you. I’ve tried to find this graph but no luck. I can tell you this is not our graph nor is the data correct."
signed by the Service Climatologist,
Western Regional Climate Center
The mystery graph
