To the Editor:
A recent AP story that appeared on the Internet and in the local newspaper on Jan. 22 is misleading.
Headlines were, “Science Agencies Say 2017 One of Hottest Years on Record.” If you believe the data used, the headline could then have also said, “The Earth Cooled in 2017” because it was warmer in 2016. Additionally, the article said, “without the help of El Nino.” This is also misleading, because the earth did experience Pacific Ocean warming from February through July 2017, but it was below the levels of intensity and duration required to qualify as an official “El Nino Year.” Finally, the government again altered the rules used in prior years to determine which data to use and how to modify other data before averaging. This makes me wonder what result the raw data would have shown.
John Shewchuk
Certified Consulting Meteorologist
Village of Calumet Grove
