It looks like the “Inter Mountain West” is
Turning into the “Under Mountain West”
I had done a couple of ‘cuts’ of the USA by adding digits to the 425 country code, but tended to get rather tangled messes with bits of Pensacola Florida blended in with what I’d expected to be more western. Unlike other parts of the world, the USA set of thermometers was fairly large, and to get a restricted geography required some work to sort out what key to use as the ‘sort key’ ;-)
So I put it off…
But having found that there was a highly systematic erasing of the high altitude thermometers in South America, I realized that the “California 4 At The Beach” was not just a fluke, it was a design. And once folks have a hammer, well, the world starts to look like a nail… And somebody was flattening the world with their thermometer hammer.
But I’d made a little hammer too. So I’ve decided to use it to knock out a report or two on the Western States of the USA. These may not always be exactly by state boundaries (the number codes are not mapped as cleanly as I’d like for “by state” reports) but they do cover related areas.
One Geek Note: Due to benchmarking the “with USHCN added back in” I can’t run these “used stations” reports against the v2.mean_comb file (where I’ve put back in the 2007 USHCN deleted stations). So these are run against the GHCN v2.mean file. The only difference will be in Jan-May 2007 where the dregs of USHCN would have been in v2.mean_comb before the USHCN.v2 file cutover killed them entirely. Not a big deal, you just see the percents cut more cleanly in Jan 2007 instead of smeared partly into the year and fully cut in 2008. They still end up dead.
For Code 4257246 – 425 is the USA. 7246 is Colorado (ish)
It also looks to include a bit of New Mexico and even some Kansas
[chiefio@tubularbells chiefio]$ inin 4257246 42572460001 STRATFORD 36.35 -102.08 1125 1114R -9FLxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 10 42572460002 GOODWELL RESEARCH STATION 36.60 -101.62 1008 994R -9FLxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBB2 9 42572460003 BOISE CITY 2E 36.73 -102.48 1263 1257R -9FLxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBB2 11 42572460004 HOOKER 36.87 -101.22 912 910R -9FLxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 11 42572460005 LIBERAL 37.05 -100.92 863 868S 17FLxxno-9x-9WARM CROPS C3 33 42572462000 ALAMOSA, CO. 37.43 -105.87 2299 2286R -9MVxxno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572462001 CIMARRON 4SW 36.47 -104.95 1993 2071R -9HIxxno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572462002 TRES PIEDRAS,NM USA 36.70 -106.00 2475 2578R -9MVxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572462003 RED RIVER 36.70 -105.40 2644 2981R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER B2 9 42572462004 CHAMA 36.92 -106.58 2392 2570R -9MVxxno-9x-9HIGHLAND SHRUB B2 0 42572462005 MANASSA 37.17 -105.95 2343 2354R -9MVxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572462006 WOLF CREEK PASS,CO USA 37.50 -106.80 3244 3093R -9MTxxno-9x-9HIGHLAND SHRUB A2 0 42572462007 DEL NORTE 37.67 -106.35 2401 2496R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C2 10 42572462008 SAGUACHE 38.08 -106.13 2344 2452R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A2 0 42572464000 PUEBLO/MEMORI 38.28 -104.50 1439 1443U 99FLxxno-9A 5COOL IRRIGATED C3 22 42572464001 TRINIDAD 37.17 -104.48 1837 2016R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL IRRIGATED C2 25 42572464002 TRINIDAD/FAA ARPT 37.25 -104.33 1751 1746R -9MVxxno-9A-9COOL IRRIGATED A1 0 42572464003 ROCKY FORD 2SE 38.03 -103.70 1271 1285R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 0 42572464004 LA JUNTA/4 NNE 38.05 -103.52 1277 1262R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 9 42572465000 GOODLAND/RENN 39.37 -101.68 1124 1111R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 16 42572465001 CHEYENNE WELLS 38.82 -102.35 1295 1297R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL IRRIGATED C2 12 42572465002 SAINT FRANCIS 39.77 -101.80 1024 1030R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 17 42572465003 WRAY 40.07 -102.23 1077 1138R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 17 42572466001 COLORADO SPRINGS UNITED 38.82 -104.72 1882 1870U 251MVxxno-9A 3COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 58 42572468001 CANON CITY 38.42 -105.23 1624 1805S 13MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C2 19 42572469000 DENVER/STAPLE 39.78 -104.87 1626 1637U 1980FLxxno-9A 1COOL IRRIGATED C3 85 42572469001 DILLON 1E 39.63 -106.03 2763 2937R -9MVxxLA-9x-9COOL CONIFER C3 25 42572469002 BUCKLEY FIELD/ANG 39.70 -104.75 1727 1704U 1980FLxxno-9A 3COOL IRRIGATED C2 35 42572469003 DENVER/LOWRY AFB 39.72 -104.90 1645 1648U 1980FLxxno-9A 3COOL IRRIGATED C3 105 42572469004 BERTHOUD PASS,CO USA 39.80 -105.80 4338 3371R -9MTxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572469005 FRASER,CO USA 40.00 -105.80 2609 2787R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572469006 NIWOT RIDGE C1, CO USA 40.00 -105.50 3018 2688R -9MTxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 9 42572469007 BOULDER 40.00 -105.27 1671 1821U 1970MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C3 37 42572469008 NIWOT RIDGE D1, CO USA 40.10 -105.60 3743 3292R -9MTxxno-9x-9COOL IRRIGATED A1 0 [chiefio@tubularbells chiefio]$
Looks like a pretty good selection of stations for that Latitude / Longitude block, yes?
So what does the “By Altitude” report look like?
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257246.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 20 50 100 200 300 400 500 1000 2000 Space DAltPct: 1879 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1889 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 86.1 13.9 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.1 73.5 23.5 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.3 75.0 19.7 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.8 59.7 31.4 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.4 58.2 33.5 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.2 59.0 32.8 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.8 60.2 32.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.1 60.6 33.3 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.5 59.5 35.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.7 59.8 34.5 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.5 60.7 33.8 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.0 67.0 26.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.2 64.3 27.5 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257246
Fair amount of elevation and looks modestly smooth. Some “fade” in the 2000+ meter band from 35% down to 27.5%. But nothing too obnoxious. But we have ‘slammed up against 2000 m’ elevation. Maybe we need to do a better spread of this band…
Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1879 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1889 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 86.1 13.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.1 73.5 23.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.3 75.0 18.2 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.8 59.7 18.1 13.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.4 58.2 20.9 12.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.2 59.0 20.5 12.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.8 60.2 20.3 11.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.1 60.6 18.2 9.1 3.3 2.7 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.5 59.5 16.5 8.3 5.5 2.8 1.9 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.7 59.8 17.1 6.0 5.7 2.8 2.8 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.5 60.7 18.3 5.5 5.5 2.8 1.7 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.0 67.0 18.9 7.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.2 64.3 19.3 8.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257246
Oh Dear! Now we can see that everything above 3000 m has been eliminated and even the 2500-3000 m band has had a fair amount of erosion.
There there is the by year detail…
ALT pct: 2006 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.0 60.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2007 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2008 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.2 64.3 19.3 8.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257246
Frumpht! Everything is squashed into the “under 2000m” band. And at 100% it is starting to smell like maybe it is only one station…
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ cat Temps/4257246.stns2009 42572465000 GOODLAND/RENN 39.37 -101.68 1124 1111R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 16 [chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$
Goodland, Kansas. A nice enough little farm town in the higher elevations of Kansas, but not exactly the same thing as 4000 meters+ up in the Rockies! Forget Boulder Co. Forget Denver Co. And certainly forget BERTHOUD PASS Co. at 4338 meters elevation.
Now I like a good joke as much as the next guy, and I’d been using the “tag line” that each place that had thermometer altitude erosion had been made “As flat as Kansas”; but this is just too much… They really did make the Colorado Rockies “As Flat As Kansas”!
From: http://culter.colorado.edu/NWT/site_info/climate/climate.html
When compared to nearby lower elevations, Niwot Ridge is characterized by low temperatures throughout the year, increased solar radiation (and consequently higher levels of ultraviolet radiation), higher wind velocities, and an abbreviated growing season. Meteorological data have been collected since 1953 from a network of stations ranging in elevation from 2591 to 3743 m.
Annual mean temperature at 3743 m is -3.7 degrees Celsius. The January mean temperature is -13.2 degrees Celsius and the July mean is 8.2 degrees Celsius.
Gee, high and cold, don’t need that…

Tossers - Niwot Ridge in Spring
Photo gallery with Original Image. I believe that use of this image for educational purposes constitutes “fair use”.

Keepers - Goodland, Kansas
For Code 4257236 – 425 USA – 7236 is Las Vegas / New Mexico (ish)
42572360000 CLAYTON/MUN., 36.45 -103.15 1515 1498R -9HIxxno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBB2 12 42572360001 DALHART/MUNICIPAL AP 36.02 -102.55 1216 1206R -9FLxxno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA2 14 42572360002 SPRINGER 36.37 -104.58 1805 1784R -9HIxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 8 42572360003 RATON/CREWS FIELD 36.75 -104.50 1946 1966R -9MVxxno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572360004 KENTON 36.90 -102.97 1325 1369R -9HIxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572363000 AMARILLO/INTL 35.22 -101.72 1098 1086U 158FLxxno-9A 3WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 31 42572363001 BOYS RANCH 35.53 -102.25 972 1004R -9FLxxno-9x-9WARM CROPS A2 0 42572363002 MIAMI 35.70 -100.63 839 873R -9FLxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 0 42572364001 COLUMBUS 31.83 -107.65 1267 1276R -9HIDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572364002 GAGE 4ESE 32.22 -108.02 1344 1353R -9FLDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572364003 DEMING/FAA AIRPORT 32.25 -107.70 1311 1302S 11FLxxno-9A 3WARM GRASS/SHRUBB2 0 42572365000 ALBUQUERQUE/I 35.05 -106.62 1620 1587U 589MVxxno-9A 2WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 48 42572365001 MOUNTAINAIR 34.52 -106.25 1987 1999R -9MVDEno-9x-9COOL CONIFER B2 10 42572365002 LOS LUNAS 3SSW 34.77 -106.75 1475 1510R -9HIxxno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 12 42572365003 GRANTS/MILAN MUNI AP 35.17 -107.90 1987 2056R -9MVDEno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 12 42572365004 LAS VEGAS SEWAGE PLT 35.53 -105.20 1935 1955S 15HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572365005 SANTA FE 35.62 -106.08 1935 1942U 57MVxxno-9A 7WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 8 42572365006 LAS VEGAS/FAA AIRPORT 35.65 -105.15 2093 2047S 15HIxxno-9A 8COOL CONIFER B2 0 42572365007 JEMEZ SPRINGS 35.77 -106.68 1908 2252R -9MVxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572365008 LOS ALAMOS,NM USA 35.90 -106.30 2259 2247S 11MVxxno-9A 1WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 35 42572365009 WOLF CANYON,NM USA 36.00 -106.80 2484 2687R -9MVxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0
Not a lot of altitude variation to work with, but we do have a couple that are called out as COOL CONIFER. So what happens?
Pretty flat area, but we still get everything over 2000 m deleted.
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257236.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1889 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.7 94.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.8 85.3 7.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.6 74.8 13.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 0.0 0.0 12.6 74.8 12.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.8 75.1 13.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.1 77.2 13.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.3 76.9 13.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.2 74.6 15.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.5 74.1 14.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 0.0 0.0 15.0 85.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 15.6 84.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257236
How about that recent years cutoff in 2007?
ALT pct: 2006 0.0 0.0 0.0 18.2 81.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2007 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2008 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 15.6 84.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257236
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ cat Temps/4257236.stns2009
42572363000 AMARILLO/INTL 35.22 -101.72 1098 1086U 158FLxxno-9A 3WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 31
42572365000 ALBUQUERQUE/I 35.05 -106.62 1620 1587U 589MVxxno-9A 2WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 48
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$
So the “survivors” are both “WARM GRASS / SHRUB”. And both have “A” Airstation flags. It looks like we get two major airports in the flats.
For Code 4257226 – 425 USA – 7226 is W. Texas / New Mexico (ish)
42572260000 STEPHENVILLE/ 32.22 -98.18 402 399S 14HIxxno-9A 1HIGHLAND SHRUB C2 33 42572260001 BROWNWOOD 31.72 -99.00 422 441S 18FLxxno-9x-9HIGHLAND SHRUB C3 26 42572260002 DUBLIN 32.10 -98.33 457 423R -9HIxxno-9x-9HIGHLAND SHRUB C2 14 42572260003 MINERAL WELLS/MUNICIPAL AP 32.78 -98.07 283 267S 15HIxxno-9A 3WARM CROPS B2 0 42572261000 DEL RIO/INT., 29.37 -100.92 313 300S 31FLxxno-9x-9HOT DESERT C3 37 42572261001 CATARINA 28.33 -99.63 170 158R -9FLDEno-9x-9TROP. SAVANNA A1 0 42572261002 EAGLE PASS 28.70 -100.48 245 235S 21FLxxno-9A 1WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 46 42572261003 DEL RIO/LAUGHLIN AFB 29.37 -100.78 327 325S 31FLxxno-9A10HOT DESERT C3 22 42572262001 CARLSBAD/FAA AIRPORT 32.33 -104.27 986 997S 25FLxxno-9A 6WARM GRASS/SHRUBB2 8 42572262002 CARLSBAD 32.42 -104.23 950 971S 25FLxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 38 42572263000 SAN ANGELO/MA 31.37 -100.50 582 585U 84FLxxno-9A 6WARM GRASS/SHRUBB2 14 42572263001 SAN ANGELO/GOODFELLOW AFB 31.40 -100.40 573 568U 84FLxxno-9A 2WARM GRASS/SHRUBB2 11 42572263002 BALLINGER 2NW 31.73 -99.98 534 515R -9FLxxno-9x-9WARM FIELD WOODSB2 9 42572264001 ALPINE 30.37 -103.67 1365 1420R -9HIDEno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 19 42572264002 BALMORHEA 30.98 -103.75 981 990R -9HIDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572264003 PECOS 31.42 -103.50 795 790S 12FLxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 21 42572265000 MIDLAND/MIDLA 31.95 -102.18 872 866U 89FLxxno-9A10WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 18 42572265001 MCCAMEY 31.13 -102.20 746 761R -9HIDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 13 42572265002 WINK/FAA AIRPORT 31.78 -103.20 857 851R -9FLxxno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572265003 WEBB/AFB 32.22 -101.52 781 780S 23FLxxno-9A 2WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 17 42572265004 SEMINOLE 32.72 -102.67 1018 1008R -9FLDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 20 42572266000 ABILENE/MUN., 32.42 -99.68 546 541U 107HIxxno-9A 4WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 19 42572266001 ABILENE/DYESS AFB 32.43 -99.85 542 547U 107HIxxno-9A 6WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 37 42572266002 ALBANY 32.73 -99.28 432 436R -9HIxxno-9A-9WARM FIELD WOODSC2 10 42572266003 HASKELL 33.17 -99.75 487 478R -9FLxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 14 42572267000 LUBBOCK/LUBBO 33.65 -101.82 988 978U 186FLxxno-9A 6WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 29 42572267001 REESE/AFB 33.60 -102.05 1014 1008U 186FLxxno-9A10WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 19 42572267002 CROSBYTON 33.65 -101.25 917 905R -9FLDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 11 42572267003 PLAINVIEW 34.18 -101.70 1027 1020S 22FLxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 31 42572268000 ROSWELL/INDUS 33.30 -104.53 1118 1110S 44FLxxno-9A 4WARM GRASS/SHRUBB2 12 42572269001 STATE UNIVERSITY 32.28 -106.75 1182 1230U 62HIxxno-9x-9HIGHLAND SHRUB C3 39
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257226.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1849 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1859 0.0 0.0 52.6 0.0 47.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1869 0.0 0.0 22.2 0.0 77.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1879 0.0 0.0 46.7 0.0 53.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1889 0.0 0.0 25.0 54.2 20.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 0.0 0.0 38.7 37.7 23.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 0.0 37.4 38.9 23.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 2.9 36.2 39.1 21.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 6.4 32.1 36.5 25.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 5.4 27.2 40.2 27.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 4.8 24.9 46.4 23.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 3.3 22.8 54.0 19.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 3.2 21.6 58.7 16.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 3.4 22.4 56.9 17.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 3.3 25.9 54.4 16.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 3.6 26.6 51.5 18.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 1.2 24.4 53.1 21.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257226
A general fade from the 2000 meter band. Not very much, really.
But how about those yearly records?
ALT pct: 2006 0.0 0.0 23.5 52.9 23.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2007 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2008 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 1.2 24.4 53.1 21.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257226
Oh. Everything in the “Under 1000 meters” band again… Wonder where it all ended up this time?
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ cat Temps/4257226.stns2009
42572263000 SAN ANGELO/MA 31.37 -100.50 582 585U 84FLxxno-9A 6WARM GRASS/SHRUBB2 14
42572265000 MIDLAND/MIDLA 31.95 -102.18 872 866U 89FLxxno-9A10WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 18
42572266000 ABILENE/MUN., 32.42 -99.68 546 541U 107HIxxno-9A 4WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 19
42572267000 LUBBOCK/LUBBO 33.65 -101.82 988 978U 186FLxxno-9A 6WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 29
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$
All “WARM GRASS” and Airports again…
For Code 4257226 – 425 USA – 7247 is W. Colorado / Utah (ish) ?
42572470001 HANKSVILLE 38.37 -110.72 1313 1358R -9HIDEno-9A-9HIGHLAND SHRUB A1 0 42572470002 GREEN RIVER AVIATION 39.00 -110.17 1240 1299R -9HIDEno-9A-9HIGHLAND SHRUB C2 13 42572470003 MANTI 39.25 -111.63 1749 2016R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572470004 HIAWATHA 39.48 -111.02 2218 2378R -9MVDEno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572470005 LEVAN 39.57 -111.87 1615 1669R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 0 42572471001 CEDAR CITY/FAA AIRPORT 37.70 -113.10 1709 1784S 13MVxxno-9A 3WARM CONIFER C3 28 42572471002 PANGUITCH 37.82 -112.43 2014 2136R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 0 42572471003 PAROWAN POWER PLANT 37.83 -112.83 1828 2095R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 13 42572471004 BEAVER 38.30 -112.65 1810 1842R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 10 42572471005 LOA 38.40 -111.65 2154 2277R -9MVDEno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572471006 MILFORD/WSMO 38.43 -113.02 1533 1557R -9HIDEno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 0 42572471007 RICHFIELD RADIO KSVC 38.77 -112.08 1615 1767R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 19 42572471008 FILLMORE 38.95 -112.32 1560 1722R -9MVDEno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 10 42572471009 SCIPIO 39.25 -112.10 1615 1827R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572471010 DESERET 39.28 -112.65 1399 1395R -9FLDEno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572471011 DELTA/FAA AIRPORT 39.38 -112.52 1452 1426R -9FLDEno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 0 42572476000 GRAND JUNCTIO 39.12 -108.53 1475 1491S 29MVxxno-9A 3COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 29 42572476001 MONTROSE #2 38.48 -107.88 1763 1798R -9MVxxno-9A-9HIGHLAND SHRUB C3 27 42572476002 GUNNISON 3SW 38.53 -106.97 2328 2428R -9MVxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER B2 0 42572476003 MOAB 38.58 -109.55 1225 1402R -9HIDEno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 16 42572476004 CRESTED BUTTE,CO USA 38.90 -107.00 2699 3073R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C2 9 42572476005 THOMPSON 38.97 -109.72 1554 1601R -9MVDEno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572476006 FRUITA 1W 39.17 -108.75 1365 1481R -9MVxxno-9x-9HIGHLAND SHRUB C2 17 42572476007 COLLBRAN 39.25 -107.97 1822 2096R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A2 0
And the changes in Altitude:
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257247.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1889 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 72.7 27.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 84.9 15.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 86.7 13.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 83.7 11.1 5.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 76.9 18.3 4.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 76.2 19.0 4.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 76.9 18.5 4.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 79.2 16.7 4.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 79.3 16.5 4.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 79.2 16.7 4.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 80.2 15.9 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 85.5 14.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 85.7 14.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257247
A by now familiar pattern. Above 2500m fades first, then 2000-2500 meters gets a little weak, as the lower band gains.
Then the detail recent years:
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ tail Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257247.per.ALT ALT pct: 2004 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 82.4 17.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2005 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 80.0 20.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2006 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 85.7 14.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2007 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2008 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 85.7 14.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257247
Again everything going down slope to one destination at 1475 meters:
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ cat Temps/4257247.stns2009
42572476000 GRAND JUNCTIO 39.12 -108.53 1475 1491S 29MVxxno-9A 3COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 29
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$
One single place. The Airport at Grand Junction…
For Code 425 USA – 7248 is Nevada / Central California
Just to show I’m not cherry picking, here is an odd case that goes sort of the other way. Maybe it’s an artifact of the areas involved leaking off to somewhere else, maybe not. But this block has a “melt up” to the a single high desert location.
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ cat Temps/4257248.stns2009 42572486000 ELY/YELLAND, 39.28 -114.85 1909 2054R -9MVDEno-9x-9COOL DESERT C3 22 [chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$
Where it started from quite a mix of places, even including Sacramento, California.
42572480001 INDEPENDENCE 36.80 -118.20 1203 1257R -9MVxxno-9A-9HIGHLAND SHRUB B2 0 42572480002 BISHOP/ARPT 37.37 -118.37 1253 1294R -9MVDEno-9A-9COOL CONIFER C2 17 42572480003 TONOPAH/AIRPORT 38.07 -117.08 1654 1680R -9HIDEno-9A-9COOL DESERT A2 0 42572480004 MINA 38.38 -118.10 1386 1599R -9MVDEno-9x-9COOL DESERT A1 0 42572481001 MERCED MUNICIPAL AP 37.28 -120.52 46 49U 56FLxxno-9A 2WARM IRRIGATED B2 22 42572481002 CASTLE/AFB 37.38 -120.57 60 56R -9FLxxno-9A-9WARM IRRIGATED C3 20 42572481003 YOSEMITE PARK HEADQUARTERS 37.75 -119.58 1208 2167R -9MVxxno-9x-9WARM CONIFER A2 0 42572483001 DAVIS EXP FARM 2WSW 38.53 -121.77 18 16S 46FLxxno-9x-9WARM IRRIGATED B2 25 42572483002 MATHER/AFB 38.57 -121.30 40 29U 1481FLxxno-9A 2MED. GRAZING C3 42 42572483003 SACRAMENTO CITY USA 38.60 -121.50 6 8U 1481FLxxno-9x-9MED. GRAZING C3 72 42572483004 MCCLELLAN/AFB 38.67 -121.40 25 22U 1481FLxxno-9A 1MED. GRAZING C3 54 42572486000 ELY/YELLAND, 39.28 -114.85 1909 2054R -9MVDEno-9x-9COOL DESERT C3 22 42572486001 MCGILL 39.40 -114.77 1920 2081R -9MVDEno-9x-9COOL DESERT B2 9 42572487001 SAINT GEORGE 37.12 -113.57 844 886S 29HIxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 49 42572487002 MODENA 37.80 -113.92 1664 1712R -9HIDEno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572488000 RENO/INT., NV 39.50 -119.78 1341 1419U 134MVxxno-9A 1HIGHLAND SHRUB C3 97 42572488001 TAHOE CITY 39.17 -120.13 1898 2006R -9MVxxLA-9x-9COOL CONIFER B2 12 42572488002 FALLON/NAAS 39.42 -118.72 1199 1199R -9FLDEno-9A-9COOL DESERT C3 24 42572488003 FALLON EXPERIMENT STATION 39.45 -118.78 1208 1206R -9FLDEno-9x-9COOL DESERT B2 17 42572489001 STEAD/AFB 39.67 -119.87 1532 1603U 134MVxxno-9A10COOL DESERT C3 24 42572489002 QUINCY 39.97 -120.95 1038 1212R -9MVxxno-9A-9WARM IRRIGATED C2 12 42572489003 SUSANVILLE AP 40.38 -120.57 1263 1312R -9MVxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER B2 0
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257248.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1859 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1869 58.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 41.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1879 63.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 36.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1889 79.4 0.0 0.0 1.6 19.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 43.6 0.0 0.0 9.1 47.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 37.4 0.0 0.0 7.6 55.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 31.8 0.0 0.0 6.4 61.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 32.7 0.0 0.0 6.5 60.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 31.2 0.0 0.0 6.2 62.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 31.4 0.6 0.0 5.8 62.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 33.3 4.2 0.0 4.2 58.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 33.0 3.7 0.0 3.7 59.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 33.3 0.4 0.0 4.1 62.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 28.1 0.0 0.0 4.3 67.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 21.8 0.0 0.0 5.0 73.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 16.2 0.0 0.0 6.0 77.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257248
So in the decade view we see a little bit of ‘melt up’ with the sea level band weakening. So how about that detail by years?
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ tail Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257248.per.ALT ALT pct: 2004 17.6 0.0 0.0 5.9 76.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2005 15.4 0.0 0.0 7.7 76.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2006 15.4 0.0 0.0 7.7 76.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2007 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2008 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 16.2 0.0 0.0 6.0 77.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257248
Ely Nevada can be pretty cold some times. But Tahoe, Quincy, Susanville, Yosemite. These are all very cold snowy places with some altitude in the Sierra Nevada mountains (which name translates to “Snowy Mountains”…)
But it doesn’t last long, this wrong way moment…
For Code 425 USA – 7256 is up toward Wyoming

Tossers - Laramie, Wyoming
Yeah, I could show a picture of downtown Laramie and make it look more city like, but the fact is that Laramie is far higher, and colder, than where the thermometer ends up. It is between, and very near, a couple of mountain ranges like this one. From the wike page:
Laramie is on a high plain between two mountain ranges, the Snowy Range, about 30 miles (48 km) to the west, and the Laramie Range, 7 miles (11 km) to the east. The city’s elevation above sea level is about 7,165 feet (2,184 m).
So yeah, it isn’t exactly IN those hills, but it’s stuck between them and some other nearer mountains on a high cold plain…
Laramie’s total precipitation averages only about 10 inches (250 mm) a year, and the average number of rainy days per year is about 26. The city experiences a day that is 90 °F (32 °C) or warmer about once a year. The average temperature in January is 21 °F (−6 °C), and in July it is 64 °F (18 °C). Annual snowfall averages 42 inches (107 cm). Because of the high elevation, winters are long, and summers are short and relatively cool.
So I think it is ‘fair’ to show the things driving that snowy cold climate. It is certainly colder than the North Platte Nebraska “keeper”…
Keepers - North Platte Nebraska
North Platte wiki page and Original Image
Or the Airport at Casper / Natrona ( http://www.iflycasper.com/index.php/gallery/ )
42572561000 SIDNEY/MUN., 41.10 -102.98 1312 1288R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL CROPS A2 13 42572561001 AKRON/1 N 40.17 -103.22 1421 1407R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 16 42572561002 LE ROY USA 40.50 -103.00 1362 1354R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572561003 LODGEPOLE 41.15 -102.63 1167 1201R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL CROPS C2 0 42572561004 KIMBALL 41.25 -103.67 1450 1465R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 20 42572562000 NORTH PLATTE/ 41.13 -100.68 849 866S 23FLxxno-9A 3COOL IRRIGATED C2 13 42572562001 CURTIS 3NNE 40.67 -100.50 829 818R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL CROPS B2 10 42572562002 GOTHENBURG 40.93 -100.17 787 791R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL CROPS C2 20 42572562003 BROKEN BOW 2W 41.42 -99.68 762 797R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL IRRIGATED B2 13 42572562004 HALSEY 2W 41.90 -100.32 824 856R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572564000 CHEYENNE, WY. 41.15 -104.82 1872 1870U 50FLxxno-9A 2COOL IRRIGATED C3 103 42572564001 PINE BLUFFS 5W 41.17 -104.15 1578 1589R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572564002 LARAMIE AP 41.32 -105.68 2214 2195S 27HIxxno-9A 3COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 0 42572564003 CHUGWATER 41.75 -104.82 1616 1671R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572566001 BRIDGEPORT 41.67 -103.10 1117 1143R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 15 42572566002 SCOTTSBLUFF/COUNTY ARPT 41.87 -103.60 1203 1193S 14FLxxno-9A 3COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 14 42572566003 TORRINGTON EXP FARM 42.08 -104.22 1249 1290R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 21 42572566004 ALLIANCE 1WNW 42.10 -102.90 1217 1216S 10FLxxno-9x-9COOL IRRIGATED C3 40 42572566005 HARRISON 42.68 -103.88 1478 1468R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL IRRIGATED A2 0 42572566006 LUSK 2SW 42.75 -104.48 1551 1571R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA2 7 42572567000 VALENTINE/MIL 42.87 -100.55 792 815R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 21 42572567001 PURDUM 42.07 -100.25 819 834R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572567002 WOOD 43.50 -100.48 664 685R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572569000 CASPER/NATRON 42.92 -106.47 1612 1625U 50FLxxno-9A 2COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 15 42572569001 PATHFINDER DAM 42.47 -106.85 1807 1850R -9HIxxLA-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572569002 DOUGLAS/AVIATION 42.75 -105.38 1464 1507R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER C2 23 42572569003 MIDWEST 43.40 -106.28 1467 1512R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 21
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257256.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1869 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1879 0.0 0.0 0.0 41.7 37.5 20.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1889 0.0 0.0 0.0 60.0 40.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 0.0 0.0 0.0 43.4 48.7 8.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 0.0 0.0 40.5 54.1 5.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 0.0 0.0 43.9 51.0 5.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 0.0 0.0 40.4 55.2 4.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 0.0 0.0 39.1 56.5 4.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 0.0 0.0 39.5 56.2 4.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 0.0 0.0 38.4 58.1 3.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 0.0 0.0 41.5 55.1 3.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 0.0 0.0 42.3 54.2 3.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 0.0 0.0 40.4 56.1 3.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.9 61.9 4.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.3 61.9 4.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257256
The “above 2000 meters” shrinks some, but so does the “under 1000″… Maybe the most recent detail will tell us who wins this race for 1000-2000 meter band?
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ tail Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257256.per.ALT ALT pct: 2004 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.3 61.9 4.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2005 0.0 0.0 0.0 31.6 63.2 5.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2006 0.0 0.0 0.0 29.4 64.7 5.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2007 0.0 0.0 0.0 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2008 0.0 0.0 0.0 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.3 61.9 4.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257256
Well, everything gets squashed again, but it looks like we get two thermometers this time… and the “under 1000 meters” pulls even in the home stretch.
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ cat Temps/4257256.stns2009
42572562000 NORTH PLATTE/ 41.13 -100.68 849 866S 23FLxxno-9A 3COOL IRRIGATED C2 13
42572569000 CASPER/NATRON 42.92 -106.47 1612 1625U 50FLxxno-9A 2COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 15
We get 2 more Airports. At lest they are called “COOL” this time. Wonder how they stack up to a “LARAMIE” or my favorite “CHUGWATER” 8-)
For Code 425 USA – 7259 is Oregon / Northern California
Tossers - Mount Shasta
Who needs glaciers when you can have a snuggley warm valley…
Mount Shasta and links to Original Image

Keepers - Medford Oregon, Rogue Valley Med Center
Original Image, on a hill as you approach downtown Medford.
42572591000 RED BLUFF/MUN 40.15 -122.25 108 120S 12FLxxno-9A 2WARM CONIFER B2 10 42572591001 UKIAH 39.15 -123.20 192 300S 15HIxxno-9x-9WARM FOR./FIELD C3 29 42572591002 WILLOWS 6W 39.52 -122.30 71 81R -9FLxxno-9x-9MED. GRAZING A1 0 42572591003 CHICO UNIV FARM 39.70 -121.82 56 65S 40HIxxno-9x-9MED. GRAZING B2 16 42572591004 ORLAND 39.75 -122.20 77 73R -9FLxxno-9x-9MED. GRAZING C2 15 42572592001 REDDING WSO 40.50 -122.30 153 155U 66FLxxno-9A10WARM CONIFER C3 16 42572592002 WEAVERVILLE RS 40.73 -122.93 624 841R -9MVxxno-9x-9WARM CONIFER C2 9 42572592003 MOUNT SHASTA 41.32 -122.32 1094 1286R -9MVxxno-9x-9MED. GRAZING B3 13 42572594000 EUREKA, CA. 40.80 -124.17 18 38S 27HIxxCO 3x-9WATER C3 35 42572594001 FORT BRAGG 5N 39.50 -123.78 36 78R -9HIxxCO 1x-9WATER B2 0 42572594002 ORLEANS 41.30 -123.53 124 541R -9MVxxno-9x-9WARM CONIFER A1 0 42572597000 MEDFORD/MEDFO 42.37 -122.87 405 415S 47MVxxno-9A 2WARM FOR./FIELD C3 45 42572597001 YREKA 41.72 -122.63 800 900R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C3 21 42572597002 HAPPY CAMP RS 41.80 -123.37 341 564R -9MVxxno-9x-9WARM CONIFER A2 0 42572597003 BROOKINGS 2SE 42.03 -124.25 14 104R -9HIxxCO 1x-9COASTAL EDGES B2 9 42572597004 KLAMATH FALLS/KINGSLEY FLD AF 42.15 -121.73 1246 1295S 18HIxxno-9A 3COOL CONIFER B2 14 42572597005 KLAMATH FALLS/AGR STN 42.17 -121.75 1246 1301S 18HIxxno-9A 3COOL CONIFER C3 16 42572597006 KLAMATH FALLS 2SSW 42.20 -121.78 1249 1293S 18HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C3 19 42572597007 ASHLAND 42.22 -122.72 533 756S 16MVxxno-9x-9WARM FOR./FIELD C3 23 42572597008 GRANTS PASS 42.43 -123.35 281 414S 18MVxxno-9x-9WARM CONIFER C3 23 42572597009 BLY 3NW 42.43 -121.10 1334 1429R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572597010 SEXTON SUMMIT 42.62 -123.37 1170 573R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL FOR./FIELD A1 0 42572597011 PROSPECT 2SW 42.73 -122.52 756 984R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL FOR./FIELD A1 0 42572597012 CRATER LAKE NPS HQ 42.90 -122.13 1973 1947R -9MTxxLA-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572597013 RIDDLE 42.95 -123.35 207 376R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL FOR./FIELD C2 0 42572597014 FREMONT 5NW 43.38 -121.20 1404 1420R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1
A part of the world I know rather well. I’ve driven over most all of it at some time or other. The valleys are much warmer than the mountains. Even in Oregon, you get the same effect. The Central Valley of California can be dramatically hotter than the surrounding mountains; and while in Oregon heat is a relative thing, that valley is very significantly warmer than the (often snow covered) mountains that surround it.
And skipping ahead to the punch line, where does our thermometer end up? In that nice relatively warm Oregon valley:
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ cat Temps/4257259.stns2009 42572597000 MEDFORD/MEDFO 42.37 -122.87 405 415S 47MVxxno-9A 2WARM FOR./FIELD C3 45
A nice little “WARM” spot… Medford is very very “special”. I’ve bolded a couple of bits. From the wiki page:
Medford sits in a weather shadow between the Cascade Range and Siskiyou Mountains called the Rogue Valley. As such, most of the rain associated with the Pacific Northwest and Oregon in particular skips Medford, making it drier and sunnier than the Willamette Valley. Medford’s climate is considerably warmer, both in summer and winter, than its latitude would suggest. Summers are reminiscent of Eastern Oregon, and winters resemble the coast. In Medford, summer often includes as many as ninety days over 90°F (32°C), with temperatures over 100°F (38°C) common in July and August. In August 1980, the temperature stayed over 110°F (43°C) for over a week, with two days reaching 115°F (46°C). Medford also experiences temperature inversions in the winter which during its lumber mill days produced fog so thick that visibility could be reduced to less than five feet. These inversions could last four to six weeks; some suggest this is because the metropolitan area has one of the lowest average wind speeds of all American metropolitan areas.[67][68]
Wind chill? We don’t need no Steenking Windchill! I remember those “lumber mill days”. Medford would be in an inversion, a nice bubble of warm air being heated by cars, home heaters, and yes, even the lumber mills burning all the sawdust for process heat. Last time I was there, the paper and wood industry was still in business (though with more ‘scrubbing’… but what about heat? … hmmm…) It was a wonderfully pleasant place, with the smell of fireplaces ‘wall to wall’ as folks heated there homes with wood and made lumber. Since then, though, it has grown a large crop of shopping centers for all the California Sales Tax refugees who swarm over the border to buy. (I was one for many years, before moving further south…)
We would go “up the hill” to Mount Bachelor for skiing, then run back down to the valley floor where it would be warm enough to not even have snow on the ground.
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257259.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1879 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1889 4.5 86.5 1.1 1.1 6.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 7.9 58.3 12.6 11.9 9.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 6.4 61.8 8.3 10.8 12.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 8.6 50.8 11.7 17.3 11.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 8.3 41.7 12.5 16.7 20.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 10.6 40.7 12.2 16.3 20.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 11.6 39.5 12.8 15.5 20.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 10.3 34.7 16.8 13.7 24.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 10.0 33.4 19.7 13.4 23.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 10.3 34.4 20.6 13.7 21.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 11.0 28.7 24.3 14.7 21.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 13.2 29.4 20.6 17.5 19.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 12.7 34.3 21.6 20.9 10.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257259
Everything looks pretty stable, except for a little drop in the “up to 2000 meter” band at the end with a matching bump in the “under 200 meters” band. How about the detail by years?
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ tail Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257259.per.ALT ALT pct: 2004 10.5 36.8 21.1 21.1 10.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2005 11.1 33.3 22.2 22.2 11.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2006 12.5 31.2 18.8 25.0 12.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2007 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2008 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2009 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 12.7 34.3 21.6 20.9 10.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257259
And there we have The Great Dying of Thermometers takes out both the low end and the “at altitude”, leaving just the one Medford thermometer. I once got stuck in a blizzard near Mount Shasta / Weed. I’d left Medford and, well, lets just say the weather is a lot colder and it is a lot snowier in those Cascade Mountains…
Going the other way, into Medford, it was always a great relief to drop out of the cold and snow and get down into the warmer, often completely clear of snow and ice, roadway. The town has grown a great deal over the years. From practically nothing but a cow town to a major city just in the time I’ve known it. Great place. And far warmer than the surroundings… Take a look in the Sunset Garden Book. You will see Medford is a very different growing region…
For Code 425 USA – 7267 is Montana / Wyoming area

Tossers - Yellowstone
Yellowstone and links to Original Image
Keepers - Billings Montana
42572670001 MORAN 5WNW 43.85 -110.58 2072 2100R -9MVxxLA-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572670002 WORLAND/MUNICIPAL AP 43.97 -107.97 1271 1277R -9HIxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572670003 WORLAND 44.02 -107.97 1237 1258R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 23 42572670004 BASIN 44.38 -108.05 1169 1216R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 8 42572670005 BUFFALO BILL DAM 44.50 -109.18 1571 1821R -9MVxxLA-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572670006 LAKE YELLOWSTONE 44.55 -110.40 2368 2412R -9HIxxLA-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572670007 WEST YELLOWSTONE 44.65 -111.10 2029 2114R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C2 14 42572670008 POWELL FIELD STATION 44.78 -108.75 1331 1348R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 24 42572670009 HEBGEN DAM 44.87 -111.33 1977 2339R -9MVxxLA-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572670010 YELLOWSTONE PARK MAMMOTH 44.97 -110.70 1898 2108R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A2 0 42572670011 RED LODGE 1NW 45.18 -109.25 1783 1770R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 17 42572670012 LIVINGSTON 12S 45.48 -110.57 1484 1847R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572671001 GREEN RIVER 41.53 -109.47 1855 1996S 13HIxxno-9x-9COOL DESERT C3 29 42572671002 ROCK SPRINGS FAA AP 41.60 -109.07 2054 1985S 19HIxxno-9A10COOL DESERT A2 0 42572671003 LIFTON PUMPING STATION 42.12 -111.30 1806 1838R -9MVxxLA-9x-9COOL DESERT A1 0 42572671004 BORDER 3N 42.25 -111.03 1862 2034R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL DESERT A1 0 42572671005 PINEDALE 42.87 -109.87 2186 2217R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C2 20 42572671006 ALTA 1NNW 43.78 -111.03 1959 2057R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572672000 RIVERTON, WY. 43.07 -108.47 1684 1525R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER B2 0 42572672001 DIVERSION DAM 43.23 -108.93 1699 1774R -9MVxxLA-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572672002 PAVILLION 43.25 -108.68 1658 1666R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A2 0 42572672003 DUBOIS 43.57 -109.63 2121 2273R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER B2 9 42572677000 BILLINGS/LOGA 45.80 -108.53 1088 1000U 81HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 123 42572677001 CROW AGENCY 45.60 -107.45 923 962R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER B2 13 42572677002 LIVINGSTON/FAA AP 45.70 -110.45 1418 1452R -9MVxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572677003 BIG TIMBER 45.83 -109.95 1249 1319R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 11 42572677004 HUNTLEY EXPERIMENT STATION 45.92 -108.25 911 964R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 0 42572677005 FLATWILLOW 4ENE 46.85 -108.32 956 983R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0
Lots of COOL / Cold Conifer and places over 2000 m altitude. So what happens to all these places? They end up at about 1000 meters elevation at the Billings Montana Logan Airport. I notice that this “Station Inventory” record does not have the “A” Airstation flag set, though…
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ cat Temps/4257267.stns2009 42572677000 BILLINGS/LOGA 45.80 -108.53 1088 1000U 81HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 123 [chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$
This is the tail of the ‘average of thermometers” report for this group, and you can really see the rise in the “average” temperatures as it drops to just this one big airport:
Thermometer Records, Average of Monthly Data and Yearly Average by Year Across Month, with a count of thermometer records in that year -------------------------------------------------------------------------- YEAR JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC YR COUNT -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002 -6.8 -5.3 -4.1 4.5 9.7 16.0 21.4 16.8 13.5 3.5 -0.9 -4.9 5.3 23 2003 -2.5 -6.5 0.3 6.8 10.6 14.6 22.0 21.1 12.6 8.9 -3.9 -3.9 6.7 23 2004 -8.1 -4.9 2.9 7.2 9.9 14.5 18.9 16.8 12.7 7.0 0.3 -3.1 6.2 23 2005 -5.6 -3.5 1.1 5.2 9.5 14.2 20.7 17.9 13.2 7.7 0.5 -6.7 6.2 22 2006 -2.3 -5.6 -0.8 9.9 14.5 20.3 25.6 21.9 15.4 7.0 2.2 -0.2 9.0 22 2007 -3.7 -3.2 7.1 7.0 13.7 19.0 26.1 22.2 16.3 10.2 2.6 -2.2 9.6 1 2008 -3.9 0.3 3.1 6.6 12.7 17.6 23.3 22.6 14.8 9.1 5.8 -7.1 8.7 1 AA -7.5 -5.1 -0.7 5.0 10.3 15.0 19.1 18.0 12.7 6.8 -0.7 -5.9 5.6 Ad -7.3 -5.3 -0.7 5.2 10.4 15.0 19.3 18.2 12.9 6.9 -0.5 -5.5 5.7 For Country Code 4257267
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257267.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1889 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.3 66.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 0.0 0.0 0.0 21.7 78.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.4 72.4 16.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.2 62.3 26.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.6 65.3 23.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.7 66.4 21.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 0.0 0.0 11.4 66.2 22.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.7 67.9 21.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.3 69.0 20.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.4 68.8 20.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.8 67.5 21.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.2 68.6 23.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.6 69.8 21.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257267
A somewhat misleading “by decade” report that does not show much happening. But when we take a look at the detail “by year”:
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ tail Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257267.per.ALT ALT pct: 2004 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.7 69.6 21.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2005 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.1 68.2 22.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2006 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.1 68.2 22.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2007 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2008 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.6 69.8 21.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257267
Here we see the other two altitude bands, with a 2:1 ratio of higher elevation, nuked in one go. Leaving just a nice warm airport that even this report has looking like it’s around the 2000s, but is in fact just barely over 1000 meters.
For Code 425 USA – 7268 is some kind of Idaho & Oregon

Tossers - Harney Basin / Malheur Refuge Oregon
Malheur Refuge and link to Original Image

Keepers - Boise Idaho Airport

Keepers - Pendleton Oregon
42572681000 BOISE/MUN.,ID 43.57 -116.22 874 877U 126HIxxno-9A 2COOL CONIFER C3 37 42572681001 DANNER 42.93 -117.33 1287 1336R -9FLxxno-9x-9COOL DESERT A1 0 42572681002 ARROWROCK DAM 43.60 -115.92 998 1261R -9MVxxLA-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572681003 CALDWELL 43.67 -116.68 722 746S 18FLxxno-9x-9COOL DESERT C3 39 42572681004 KETCHUM RS 43.68 -114.35 1795 2010R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C3 19 42572681005 VALE 43.98 -117.25 682 749R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL DESERT C2 9 42572681006 PAYETTE 44.08 -116.93 655 680R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL DESERT C3 21 42572681007 CHALLIS 44.50 -114.23 1577 1706R -9MVxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER B2 9 42572681008 CAMBRIDGE 44.57 -116.68 807 901R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL DESERT A2 0 42572681009 NEW MEADOWS RS 44.97 -116.28 1179 1269R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER B2 9 42572683000 BURNS,OR. 43.58 -118.95 1271 1290R -9HIxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572683001 LAKEVIEW 2NNW 42.22 -120.37 1456 1536R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL DESERT B2 10 42572683002 PAISLEY 42.70 -120.53 1328 1384R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A2 0 42572683003 MALHEUR REFUGE HDQ 43.28 -118.83 1252 1246R -9FLxxLA-9x-9COOL DESERT A1 0 42572683004 DAYVILLE USA 44.50 -119.50 720 1073R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572688000 PENDLETON,OR. 45.68 -118.85 456 430S 15HIxxno-9A 4COOL CROPS B2 15 42572688001 BAKER FAA AP 44.83 -117.82 1026 1079S 10HIxxno-9A 3COOL DESERT C2 13 42572688002 UNION EXP STN 45.22 -117.88 842 938R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C2 8 42572688003 CONDON 45.23 -120.18 872 813R -9HIxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 0 42572688004 LA GRANDE USA 45.30 -118.10 855 1106S 12HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER B2 0 42572688005 HEPPNER 45.37 -119.55 574 736R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 7 42572688006 PILOT ROCK 1SE 45.48 -118.82 524 616R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C2 9 42572688007 MEACHAM 45.50 -118.40 1237 1213R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572688008 HERMISTON 1SE 45.82 -119.27 195 172S 10FLxxno-9A 1COOL CROPS C3 16
A lot of places described as “COLD DESERT” and “COOL CROPS” or “COOL CONIFER”. So what happens over time?
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257268.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1869 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1879 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1889 0.0 0.0 0.0 77.8 22.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 0.0 0.0 9.3 64.5 26.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 2.0 6.8 61.9 29.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 4.9 4.9 63.1 27.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 4.9 4.9 62.7 27.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 4.5 4.5 58.3 32.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 4.3 4.3 55.3 36.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 3.9 3.9 53.7 38.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 3.8 3.8 54.7 37.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 4.0 4.0 54.2 37.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 4.1 6.6 52.3 37.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 4.2 6.5 49.1 40.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 8.0 52.0 40.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257268
Gee, it almost looks like a “Melt Up” to the 1000 m and 2000 m bands. But what happens lately?
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ tail Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257268.per.ALT ALT pct: 2004 0.0 0.0 5.9 52.9 41.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2005 0.0 0.0 6.2 56.2 37.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2006 0.0 0.0 6.7 53.3 40.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2007 0.0 0.0 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2008 0.0 0.0 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2009 0.0 0.0 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 8.0 52.0 40.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257268
Oh… Looking like maybe only 2 thermometers survive and they are in the “under 500 meters” and “under 1000 meters” ranges… so what are the?
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ cat Temps/4257268.stns2009
42572681000 BOISE/MUN.,ID 43.57 -116.22 874 877U 126HIxxno-9A 2COOL CONIFER C3 37
42572688000 PENDLETON,OR. 45.68 -118.85 456 430S 15HIxxno-9A 4COOL CROPS B2 15
Mrffpt. Another “2 Airports” in cities. Both of them far lower elevation than the surrounding mountains.
For Code 425 USA – 7277 is More Montana and then some
Tossers - Mullan Pass is in Helena National Forest, Montana

Keepers - Missoula Montana
42572772000 HELENA/COUNTY 46.60 -112.00 1188 1269S 25HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 50 42572772001 DILLON WMCE 45.20 -112.63 1593 1600R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C2 14 42572772002 DILLON 45.25 -112.62 1538 1569R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C3 20 42572772003 VIRGINIA CITY 45.30 -111.95 1759 1947R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER B2 8 42572772004 ENNIS 45.35 -111.72 1509 1555R -9MVxxLA-9x-9COOL CONIFER B2 12 42572772005 NORRIS MADISON POWER HOUSE 45.48 -111.63 1446 1824R -9MVxxLA-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572772006 BOZEMAN MONTANA ST UNIV 45.67 -111.05 1480 1528S 23MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 51 42572772007 BOZEMAN/GALLATIN FIELD 45.78 -111.15 1362 1367S 23MVxxno-9A12COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 24 42572772008 WHITEHALL/7 E 45.87 -111.97 1304 1385R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572772009 BUTTE/BERT MOONEY ARPT 45.95 -112.50 1688 1845S 33MVxxno-9A 2COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 26 42572772010 ANACONDA 46.13 -112.95 1609 1762S 10MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 27 42572772011 WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS #2 46.52 -110.88 1584 1611R -9MVxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572773000 MISSOULA / JO 46.92 -114.08 972 1046S 43MVxxno-9A 5COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 27 42572773001 SALMON KSRA 45.18 -113.90 1198 1416R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 16 42572773002 HAMILTON 46.25 -114.15 1075 1179R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER C3 16 42572773003 PHILIPSBURG RS 46.32 -113.30 1606 1782R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A2 8 42572773004 DRUMMOND/AVIATION 46.67 -113.15 1201 1402R -9MVxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER C2 9 42572773005 SAINT IGNATIUS 47.32 -114.10 883 1012R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 9 42572773006 HAUGAN (DEBORGIA) 3E 47.38 -115.35 944 1176R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A2 0 42572773007 MULLAN PASS 47.45 -115.67 1818 1486R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL CONIFER A1 0 42572775001 MOCCASIN EXPERIMENT STATION 47.05 -109.95 1310 1278R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572775002 LEWISTOWN USA 47.10 -109.50 1263 1233R -9HIxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER A2 9 42572775003 MALMSTROM/AFB 47.52 -111.18 1056 1035U 55FLxxno-9A 2COOL CONIFER C3 43 42572775004 VALIER 48.32 -112.25 1159 1152R -9HIxxLA-9A-9COOL CROPS B2 12 42572776000 GREAT FALLS, 47.47 -111.38 1131 1065U 55FLxxno-9A 5COOL CONIFER C3 18 42572776001 CASCADE 5S 47.22 -111.72 1024 1143R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42572776002 AUGUSTA 47.48 -112.38 1240 1268R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572776003 CHOTEAU AP 47.82 -112.17 1202 1178R -9FLxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER B2 11 42572777001 FORT ASSINNIBOINE 48.50 -109.80 796 830R -9HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBA2 0 42572777002 CHINOOK 48.58 -109.23 713 774R -9HIxxno-9A-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 9 42572777003 HAVRE/CTY CNTY MONTANA 48.60 -109.70 788 830S 11HIxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBB2 14 42572779000 KALISPELL/GLA 48.30 -114.27 906 922R -9MVxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER C2 11 42572779001 LIBBY 1NE RS 48.40 -115.53 638 814R -9MVxxno-9x-9COOL GRASS/SHRUBC2 21 42572779002 CUT BANK FAA AP 48.60 -112.37 1169 1150R -9HIxxno-9A-9COOL CROPS A2 0 42572779003 FORTINE 1N 48.78 -114.90 914 998R -9MVxxno-9A-9COOL CONIFER B2 11
And what do these stations look like over time?
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257277.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1869 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1879 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1889 0.0 0.0 0.0 63.5 36.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 0.0 0.0 0.0 44.1 55.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.5 66.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 0.0 0.0 34.6 65.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 0.0 0.0 35.0 65.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 0.0 0.0 34.5 65.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.4 66.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 0.0 0.0 29.8 70.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.9 66.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 0.0 0.0 34.0 66.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 0.0 0.0 31.6 68.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 0.0 0.0 28.1 71.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 32.1 67.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257277
The, by now familiar, long series of relative stability. But then, in the last few years:
ALT pct: 2005 0.0 0.0 0.0 32.0 68.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2006 0.0 0.0 0.0 32.0 68.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2007 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2008 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 ALT pct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2009 0.0 0.0 0.0 32.1 67.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257277
Once again, in the “final hour”, we get the stations at altitude wiped out, and we end up with this survivor:
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ more Temps/4257277.stns2009
42572773000 MISSOULA / JO 46.92 -114.08 972 1046S 43MVxxno-9A
5COOL GRASS/SHRUBC3 27
The Airport at MISSOULA … elevation at 972 meters reported or 1046 meters from the map for “nearby” terrain. Not quite the same as MULLAN PASS or ANACONDA.
For Code 425 USA – 7463 and 7473 is New Mexico area

Tossers - Wheeler Peak, N.M.

Keepers - Albuquerque N.M.
We’ll keep Albuquerque…
Here we see that the record is current into 2009:
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ grepmean 4257236500012009
4257236500012009 48 70 102 133 205 229-9999-9999-9999-9999-9999-9999
[chiefio@tubularbells analysis]$ inin ^42572365000
42572365000 ALBUQUERQUE/I 35.05 -106.62 1620 1587U 589MVxxno-9A 2WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 48
There there is this odd little set (we don’t need to keep those mountain bits…):
42574630001 SOCORRO 34.08 -106.88 1397 1441R -9MVDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 25 42574630002 MAGDELENA,NM USA 34.10 -107.20 1993 2191R -9MVDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42574635001 FORT WINGATE USA 35.50 -108.50 2134 2187R -9MVDEno-9x-9HIGHLAND SHRUB A2 0 42574635002 GALLUP/SENATOR CLARKE FLD 35.52 -108.78 1973 2032S 19HIxxno-9A 3WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 24 42574635003 CANYON-DE-CHELLY 36.15 -109.53 1709 1751R -9HIDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 10 42574635004 FARMINGTON/MUNICIPAL ARPT 36.75 -108.23 1686 1695S 34HIxxno-9A 1WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 26 42574635005 AZTEC RUINS NATL MONUMENT 36.83 -108.00 1720 1794R -9HIDEno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 18 42574638001 MULESHOE 1 34.23 -102.73 1165 1160R -9FLDEno-9A-9WARM CROPS C3 19 42574638002 CLOVIS/CANNON AFB 34.38 -103.32 1306 1306S 31FLxxno-9A 5WARM CROPS C3 21 42574638003 FORT SUMNER 34.47 -104.25 1226 1264R -9FLDEno-9x-9WARM CROPS C2 9
Lots of nice altitude. So what does it look like over time?
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257463.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1849 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1879 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1899 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 72.7 27.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 67.2 32.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 72.2 27.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 73.3 26.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 75.0 25.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 78.9 21.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 85.1 14.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2006 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257463
We have the very familiar elimination of the upper altitudes, and the concentration into one place and, wait, hang on a minute… isn’t that last line “2006”? But that would mean we have NONE of these left any more!
Yes, every single one of the thermometers in this high altitude cluster is no longer being used in the U.S.A. record. Even the ‘not so high’ southern end of the Rockies can be “just too high and cold”…
How about the similar cluster just a little further on?
42574730001 FORT STOCKTON 30.88 -102.87 908 918R -9FLDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC2 16 42574731000 TUCUMCARI, NM 35.08 -103.62 1241 1236R -9FLDEno-9A-9WARM CROPS A1 0 42574731001 SANTA ROSA 34.95 -104.68 1408 1449R -9HIxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 14 42574731002 SAN JON 35.12 -103.33 1289 1235R -9FLDEno-9x-9WARM CROPS B2 0 42574731003 TUCUMCARI 4NE 35.20 -103.68 1245 1244R -9FLDEno-9x-9WARM CROPS C2 21 42574731004 BELL RANCH 35.53 -104.10 1371 1334R -9HIxxno-9A-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42574732001 HOLLOMAN/AFB 32.85 -106.10 1241 1242R -9FLDEno-9A-9SAND DESERT C3 30 42574732002 MOUNTAIN PARK 32.95 -105.85 2066 2024R -9MVDEno-9x-9WARM CONIFER A1 0 42574732003 CLOUDCROFT,NM USA 33.00 -105.80 2691 2364R -9MVDEno-9x-9WARM CONIFER A1 0 42574732004 TULAROSA 33.08 -106.05 1350 1343R -9MVDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBB2 0 42574732005 MESCALERO,NM USA 33.20 -105.80 2068 2184R -9MVDEno-9x-9WARM CONIFER A2 0 42574732006 FORT STANTON USA 33.50 -105.50 1896 1967R -9MVDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42574733001 CARRIZOZO 1SW 33.63 -105.88 1647 1692R -9MVDEno-9x-9HIGHLAND SHRUB A2 0 42574733002 CORONA,NM USA 34.30 -105.60 2031 2018R -9HIDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42574734001 JORNADA EXPERIMENTAL RANGE 32.62 -106.73 1300 1336R -9FLDEno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBA1 0 42574735001 SNYDER 32.72 -100.92 711 721S 12FLxxno-9x-9WARM GRASS/SHRUBC3 22
Look at ./Alts/Therm.by.Alt4257473.Dec.ALT (Y/N)? y Year -MSL 50 200 500 1000 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Space DAltPct: 1859 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1861 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1879 0.0 0.0 0.0100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1895 0.0 0.0 0.0 81.8 0.0 18.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1909 0.0 0.0 0.0 13.3 66.7 0.0 20.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1919 0.0 0.0 0.0 15.0 59.8 17.3 7.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1929 0.0 0.0 0.0 14.3 57.1 21.4 7.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1939 0.0 0.0 0.0 14.3 57.1 21.4 7.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1949 0.0 0.0 0.0 14.0 58.0 21.0 7.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1959 0.0 0.0 0.0 12.9 61.3 19.4 6.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1969 0.0 0.0 0.0 12.7 62.0 19.0 6.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1979 0.0 0.0 0.0 15.2 62.1 22.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1989 0.0 0.0 0.0 19.4 69.9 10.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 1999 0.0 0.0 0.0 20.0 70.0 10.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 DAltPct: 2006 0.0 0.0 0.0 16.4 73.1 10.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 For COUNTRY CODE: 4257473
Same thing. Upper altitudes erode away, then, POOF! the whole thing evaporates in 2006 in a puff of thin high cold mountain air…
Hey, nobody will miss the Rockies in New Mexico. Heck, most folks don’t even know they are there to begin with. Not like Colorado where they have them in beer commercials. So ought to be simpler to just make it all flat lowlands and be done with it…
More To Come
I’ll be doing more of these “cuts” of the Under Mountain West over the next day or so. The remaining bits are fragmented across a couple of location codes, so I may just skip them rather than doing a special version of the code. We’ll see. Then I’ll add some pictures to pretty it up. When I’m done, I’ll take this notice away.
For now, though, I’m just a bit stunned at the audacity of it all…
UPDATE: 17 November 2009
Well, it looks like somebody “got a clue” at GISS. (Or maybe when they felt the heat, they saw the light…). They decided to put back the missing US Thermometers.
http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/updates/ has:
November 13, 2009: NOAA is no longer updating the original version of the USHCN data; it ended in May 2007. The new version 2 currently extends to July 2009. Starting today, these newer data will be used in our analysis. Documentation and programs will be updated correspondingly.
Though I note that they backdated it to before their server outage of the weekend. Actual public visibility was a few days later…
So I’ll be slowing down the effort to document in annoying detail the impact of the breakage of leaving out USHCN.v2 (and that includes this posting). Yeah, I’ll add a couple of more pictures to what is already here, but I don’t see the need to continue to beat this issue. It looks like they have decided to fix it after all…. Gee, I wonder why
;-)
But don’t worry, the “benchmark” still has value for showing the sensitivity of GIStemp to station changes AND this means I can now move on to doing The Rest Of The World.
Of course, if GISS / NOAA want’s to put back the ROW thermometers too, well, then I could go back to my ‘day job’ …
Beautiful clarification of dastardly deeds; perhaps we might say by the “evil doers”?
I have been convinced of Conspiracy since I started to polish up my science. Is Earth in danger? I did not want to contribute to our demise! My previous science comes from high school (excellent), college, and and as an avid, interested reader since then. Much of what I read, “Science”, “Nature”, etc., said yes, CO2-caused run- away warming is in our very near future. I wanted to be sure. I have revelled in a renewed science education and I have boxes of files now on numerous climate-related topics such as paleoclimate, solar science, surfacestations thermometers, tree rings, Arctic and Antarctic ice, physics of CO2 and other atmospheric gases. You are adding a lot to these boxes.
Every which way, in every direction, on the part of those who get their funding from the government or global corporations (especially those who opposed the Chamber of Commerce’s opposition to cap-and-trade), pseudo-science in the service of The AGW (Global Warming) Conspiracy has been the result.
The unbelievable level of fraud in the DNC, in the caucuses during the nomination process, in the ACORN-like fraudulent voting, and perhaps even the timing of the financial collapse, gave us TOTUS in 2008 (the T, of course, is Teleprompter). All part of “The Conspiracy”, IMHO. All pointing toward Cap-and-Trade and United Nations control of the “evil” U.S.
E.M. Smith, you are one of those providing the foundation for understanding what has happened to truth, the scientific method, and to civil society. I am forever grateful and I know there are many more like myself.
There aren’t many like you, but there are enough. And because of this commitment to the scientific method, I believe this Conspiracy will end. Thank you. Thank you.
REPLY: [ You are most welcome. (And I promise a new WSW real soon now… I think this “return to the top:” is likely losing steam. Watch for a ‘failure to advance’ and if this top is about the same place as the last one, watch for a down trend for a while… But I think you can see why I gave precedence to this posting over ‘just making some money for myself’… FWIW, I figure it’s about $3k to $5k I walked away from by choosing not to trade this particular “short” rally but to focus on this instead. A bit less after CODB, cost of doing business, and slippage. But there is always another train leaving the station…)
Also, there is a fine line between a “Conspiracy” and folks just acting from common goals and social cohesion. Add in some folks willing to manufacture ‘common goals’ and ‘momentum’ via ‘peer pressure’ and it becomes very hard to tease out the true motivations. So I leave that for last, and mostly for others.
That there is a dramatic bias in the data is clear, and demonstrated. It now all hangs on the temperature series software, such as GIStemp and Hadley, being able to remove that bias. Personally, I think they ought to be forced to prove they can (rather than me being forced to prove they can’t). But life isn’t always fair. (And I have shown that GIStemp can’t “undo the deed”… but that’s for a posting in a couple of days… Yes, I’m enjoying the notion of “some folks sweating for a couple of days” 8-) I’ve got ’em by the short hairs and I’m going to enjoy the moment… ) -ems ]
Just to be sure: They don’t have any kind of altitude correction hidden inside their spaghetti software? I assume they don’t, but still, this makes the whole GISS “global temperature” even more of a joke than it already was.
Hmm, I just noticed GISS temperature for October is out. Canada is one big blob of grey as usual, and Africa is also mostly uncovered: http://data.giss.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/gistemp/do_nmap.py?year_last=2009&month_last=10&sat=4&sst=0&type=anoms&mean_gen=10&year1=2009&year2=2009&base1=1951&base2=1980&radius=250&pol=reg
Let me run a paraphrase and summary past you. This is the ‘ELEVATOR’ sentence — if I had less than minute shared in an elevator with a powerful person whose attention I hoped to draw to your work.
“The instrument record showing a hockey stick uses a variable number of thermometers to determine each point — where instruments more recently added are usually nearer the warmer equatorial cities and instruments omitted are usually from higher elevation, cooler cities.”
Fair?
REPLY: [ That is an accurate summary, but for an “elevator sentence” it’s too technical. There is also the nit that I’ve only really seen deletions in the last decade or three, not actual additions. So I’d make the “elevator sentence”: “Over time, we’re tossing the cold location thermometers in the trash and sticking with the survivor thermometers where it’s warm – the airports and the beaches and down in the warmer valleys. It is no surprise they read warmer than the ones that used to be in the snowy mountains. You are being had.” -ems ]
Mean elevation of Colorado is 2,073 m (6800 ft).
Grand Junction is at 1,397 m and 32.6% below the median elevation.
Denver Stapleton is at 1,609 m and 22.4% below the median elevation.
Average elevation of the airportmometer fleet in Colorado: 1,503 m.
REPLY: [ So look about 1500 ft ‘up slope’ and that this the temperature you ought to be seeing in the news… and the anomaly maps… -ems ]
E.M.: I just did a quick test where I live – southern Norway. I pointed approximately in the middle of southern Norway in the GISS map selector, and got the following closest stations:
Distance Station Name Lat Lon ID Pop. Years
41 km (*) Gaustatoppen Norway 59.9 N 8.7 E 634014500010 rural area 1934 – 1974
72 km (*) Haugastol Norway 60.3 N 7.5 E 634013510010 rural area 1884 – 1976
113 km (*) Oslo/Blindern 59.9 N 10.7 E 634014890010 645,000 1880 – 1991
126 km (*) Oslo/Gardermo 60.2 N 11.1 E 634013840003 rural area 1951 – 2009
168 km (*) Ferder Fyr 59.0 N 10.5 E 634014820000 rural area 1885 – 1955
Gaustatoppen is the southernmost high mountain in Norway at 1883 meters above sea level (that’s a lot for about 60 N), and as you can see it dropped out of GISS in 1974, followed by Haugastøl (988 meters and quite close to the Hardangerjøkulen glacier) two years later. What’s left now is “rural” Oslo/Gardermoen – the country’s most busy airport since 1998.
The ONLY mountain station left in southern Norway (which consists mostly of mountains…) is Fokstua II at about 950 meters, but that station lacks data for 1990-2005.
“Over time, we’re tossing the cold location thermometers in the trash and sticking with the survivor thermometers where it’s warm – the airports and the beaches and down in the warmer valleys. It is no surprise they read warmer than the ones that used to be in the snowy mountains. You are being had.” -ems ]
That has your desired advantage of being non-technical all right. A bit other than diplomatic, though. I’d like to get to a statement of facts that inspires the presumed listener to leap to, and emotionally invest in, the “I’ve been had!” conclusion with less prompting.
Uhm: “Over time, the ‘instrument record’ mixed up data from different locations, and different numbers of instruments –so many older sites of mountaintop and north-latitude records are replaced with newer records from airports, beaches, and valleys. What do you suppose that does to the calculated average?”
I’ve generally found that when dealing with “political animals” it is better to be “a bit less than diplomatic” ’cause they don’t catch subtlety too well. Oh, and big words like “instrument record” cause a “glazed and dazed” response. Keep it “thermometer”, they know what those are because they have had one stuck up, er in, um, … they know what those are…
8-)
Ask yourself: “How would I get Pelosi to focus, for just one moment… focus… focus OK, you have 3 seconds before the glazed and dazed hyper returns, no big words, and it has to have some emotion so it sticks – even negative emotion – whatever you can get in before:” Drat. Focus just slammed shut…
Expecting such folks to make the leap to the conclusion on their own has not been a very productive strategy for me, IMHO… But maybe you will have better luck. I think I frighten such folks into rejection as they realize they are unarmed… They will never grasp the *Razor’s but they can be nicked by them. I wish it were otherwise, but I can only work with what nature has provided.
(* Such as Occam’s Razor and Hanlon’s Razor…)
E. M. Smith,
Peter O’Neill posted a comment on climateaudit that GISS has posted an updated version of their code, adding a step 6. Perhaps this was part of their weekend off-line period. Not sure if it contains substantial processing. You should take a look.
REPLY: [ Thanks! He also put a comment to that effect under the GIStemp tab here. It looks like they put the USA thermometers back ;-) Now If they will just do the same for the Rest Of The World then we can all go home for cookies and milk
8-0
Oh, and I’ve put an “UPDATE” at the bottom of the posting above, too.
I’m going to give them a day or two to work the bugs out (while I polish my ‘benchmark posting’ and get my WSW trading process back in sync… it would be nice to make a bit of money this month…) and then I’ll take a look at what they have done. Since I’ve already put USHCN.v2 back in (2 different ways!) I don’t expect a big urgency on my part to need to do an update. But it is nice to see that they “saw the light” … -ems ]