We've been monitoring the way temperature data is presented to the public.

One of the sites we monitor is the NOAA - National Weather Service.

On that page is a map displaying the temperatures using a color gradient to show temperatures.

Below is a display of today's high temperatures.

Notice how the colors yellow, orange and red are used.

Red by its very nature is an emergency color.

It's the color of blood and is that way to draw attention to a dire condition, like a cut or wound.

Yellow and orange are also attention getting colors used in traffic signals; for caution or warning.

The basic idea here is to make the condition look worse than it actually is.

We used the data and came up with a better map, using better color gradients to show the proper relative temperature boundaries for 10's, 20's, 30's, and so on.

Below is a map we came up with using the same data, but has less dire an effect on perception.

Notice now the 90's are much more isolated and nice warm weather in the 70's and 80's dominate.

The perception has changed.

Here they are side by side.