{"id":430724,"date":"2026-03-12T20:34:03","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T19:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=430724"},"modified":"2026-03-12T20:34:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T19:34:05","slug":"new-temperature-study-in-reno-finds-strong-urban-heat-island-bias-at-official-climate-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=430724","title":{"rendered":"New Temperature Study in Reno Finds Strong Urban Heat Island Bias at Official Climate Station"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Anthony Watts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent reference system shows airport station reporting temperatures up to 3\u00b0F warmer than nearby properly sited station<\/strong><\/em>. Official recorded temperatures at Reno-Tahoe International Airport are inaccurately too high due to the urban heat island effect.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCHAUMBURG, IL (March 10, 2026) \u2013 A new analysis<\/a> by The Heartland Institute finds that the official temperature station at Reno-Tahoe International Airport consistently records warmer temperatures than a nearby properly sited reference station, demonstrating how station placement and local surroundings can introduce measurable bias into surface temperature records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is particularly important because Reno is often cited as \u201cthe fastest warming city in the United States,\u201d with the blame being placed squarely on climate change. The official National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) station in Reno for climate observations is called an Automated Surface Observing System<\/a> (ASOS) station, and is located between runways at the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report, Global Open Atmospheric Temperature System (GOATS): What Was Accomplished in Reno<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> [add hotlink to document] presents the results of a two-year side-by-side comparison between the airport\u2019s ASOS station and an independently operated state-of-the art reference station designed to meet strict siting standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The comparison shows that the airport ASOS station \u2013 surrounded by pavement, runways, and infrastructure \u2013 measured significantly warmer temperatures than the GOATS station located just 1.1 miles away on a properly sited grassy area free from nearby heat-retaining surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Placement of the Reno GOATS station compared to the official NOAA ASOS station at the airport. Map by Google maps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThese measurements demonstrate that station placement alone can introduce a meaningful warm bias into reported temperature data,\u201d said Anthony Watts, senior fellow for environment and climate at The Heartland Institute and creator of the Global Open Atmospheric Temperature System (GOATS). \u201cWhen thermometers are placed near heat-retaining surfaces such as asphalt and buildings, they measure the temperature of that environment\u2014not necessarily the broader atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two Years of Parallel Measurements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GOATS reference station was installed in December 2023 near Reno-Tahoe International Airport, with the permission of the airport authority, and collected nearly two full years of measurements in parallel with the official airport station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers compared daily high (Tmax), daily low (Tmin), and daily average (Tavg) temperatures across 2024 and 2025. The results showed a consistent pattern: The official airport station reported warmer temperatures on the vast majority of days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Average temperature differences between the official ASOS station and the GOATS station were as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n