Spurious correlation #5,668 · View random
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Air pollution in Sonora, California and the second variable is Solar power generated in Albania. The chart goes from 2010 to 2018, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Air pollution in Sonora, California and the second variable is Solar power generated in Albania. The chart goes from 2010 to 2018, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

As air pollution in Sonora, California increased, it led to an inadvertent release of airborne solar power-boosting particles. These microscopic pollution particles, when transported across the globe, acted as tiny mirrors, reflecting sunlight onto the solar panels in Albania. It's like a polluted, yet oddly beneficial, game of cosmic hot potato, with solar energy as the ultimate winner.

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Create an image of a minimalist landscape. On the left side, depict a simplified silhouette of the Sonora, California skyline with hazy air pollution blocking the sun's rays. On the right side, portray a series of simple, clean lines representing rows of solar panels in Albania, glinting under the intensified sunlight. The contrast between the two scenes should reflect the unexpected boost in solar power caused by the airborne particles carried from Sonora. The depiction should include only scenes, people, and objects, it should not include text or speech bubbles.

This image generation prompt was also generated by AI, using the following sequence:

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You select one of a few potential scene descriptors that seems to go along with the variables described. You respond only with the scene descriptions provided and say nothing else.
User prompt: Here are two variables: Air pollution in Sonora, California and Solar power generated in Albania. Given these, which of the following image style descriptions seems most appropriate? Pick the one that seems to be related to one of the variables at hand. Please respond with only one of the following potential descriptions: Hyper-realistic Minimalism Steampunk Steampunk Voxel art
ChatGPT: Minimalism

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated. You combine both variables into one scene.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that prominently depicts both Air pollution in Sonora, California and Solar power generated in Albania, in the following situation: As air pollution in Sonora, California increased, it led to an inadvertent release of airborne solar power-boosting particles. These microscopic pollution particles, when transported across the globe, acted as tiny mirrors, reflecting sunlight onto the solar panels in Albania. It's like a polluted, yet oddly beneficial, game of cosmic hot potato, with solar energy as the ultimate winner.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In Sonora, California, the skyline is hazy with air pollution, and the rays of the sun struggle to break through the smog. Meanwhile, in Albania, rows of solar panels are glistening under the intensified sunlight, reflecting the unexpected boost in solar power caused by the airborne particles carried from Sonora.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You write and improve image generation prompts for DALLE-3. You maintain the same subjects, but enhance the visuals.
User prompt: Please respond with an image generation prompt that would be likely to create an interesting visual using DALLE-3, using the following style: [ Minimalism ] and depicting this scene: In Sonora, California, the skyline is hazy with air pollution, and the rays of the sun struggle to break through the smog. Meanwhile, in Albania, rows of solar panels are glistening under the intensified sunlight, reflecting the unexpected boost in solar power caused by the airborne particles carried from Sonora. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Create an image of a minimalist landscape. On the left side, depict a simplified silhouette of the Sonora, California skyline with hazy air pollution blocking the sun's rays. On the right side, portray a series of simple, clean lines representing rows of solar panels in Albania, glinting under the intensified sunlight. The contrast between the two scenes should reflect the unexpected boost in solar power caused by the airborne particles carried from Sonora.

*Variations in the User Prompts from chart to chart are just the result of random number generation in Python. I wrote a few arrays of various styles and methods to ask questions to change up the results. Every time this site writes an explanation or generates an image, the script picks from each at random.

I sequence the requests into multiple prompts because I find GPT 3.5 to perform much better with short, well-managed contexts. Thus, I track the context directly in Python and only ask ChatGPT targeted questions.
^{Show prompt for explanation} Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how increases in Air pollution in Sonora, California positively influenced Solar power generated in Albania.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Pollution and Photovoltaics: The Peculiar Pairing of Air Quality in Sonora and Solar Power in Albania

The Journal of Eclectic Environmental Studies

Jan 2024

Reminder: This paper is AI-generated. Not real!

^{Show prompt used to generate this paper} Quick note: This sequence is long and repetitive. That's how the prompt engineering works for this one. I manage the output in Python to format it into this PDF.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.You draft a literature review section of an academic research paper, that starts out dry for the first few sentences but then becomes hilarious and goofy.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Sonora, California and Solar power generated in Albania. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Speak in the present tense for this section (the authors find...), as is common in academic research paper literature reviews. Name the sources in a format similar to this: In "Book," the authors find lorem and ipsum.

Make up the lorem and ipsum part, but make it sound related to the topic at hand.

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Then name some cartoons and childrens' shows that you watched that are related to the topic.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Pollution and Photovoltaics: The Peculiar Pairing of Air Quality in Sonora and Solar Power in Albania

[[ABSTRACT]]
The curious conjunction of air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania has long tantalized researchers with its apparent incongruity. In this study, we diligently delved into this unlikely alliance, utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Information Administration to shed light on this quizzical correlation. Our findings revealed a remarkably robust correlation coefficient of 0.9151248 and a p-value less than 0.01 for the years 2010 to 2018.

It seems that the sun and the smog have struck up a peculiar partnership that defies geographical and atmospheric logic. While it may baffle some, it is clear that air pollution in Sonora has a zestful zephyr-like effect on solar power generation in Albania – a remarkable link between seemingly distant places. One might say they're truly "air-ly" connected!

This unexpected entanglement serves as a poignant reminder that in the realm of environmental phenomena, even the most improbable pairs can unexpectedly align, much like a father's uncanny knack for cracking dad jokes at the most unexpected times.

So, it seems that the dynamic dance between dirty air in Sonora and dazzling solar panels in Albania is not just a mere meteorological medley, but a whimsical waltz of wind and wavelengths. This scholarly scrutiny affirms that amidst the arduous pursuit of understanding natural phenomena, a touch of whimsy and wonder can illuminate the most unlikely connections.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
The intersection of air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania presents a puzzling conundrum that has left many researchers scratching their heads. It's a bit like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, or a solar panel in a smoggy sky – an endeavor that may seem as unlikely as finding a doctor at a baseball game, but also just as intriguing.
As we embark on this academic odyssey, we must acknowledge the inherent peculiarity of this investigation. It's like trying to map out the connection between a dusty desert town and a country known for its breathtaking coastline, except in this case, the coastline is not just a scenic view, but a beacon of solar energy potential. It's as if California's air pollutants have decided to take a transatlantic trip to bask in the sunny shores of Albania, proving once and for all that air pollution knows no bounds – or time zones for that matter.
In scrutinizing this unlikely companionship, one cannot help but approach the topic with a sense of wonder and amusement, much like stumbling upon a llama at a tea party – unexpected, delightful, and fundamentally inexplicable.
But as startling as this juxtaposition may be, our task remains to unravel the enigmatic entanglement between two seemingly disparate environmental phenomena, much like a cat attempting to unravel a ball of yarn – fumbling yet endlessly captivating.
This investigation seeks not only to shed light on the correlation between air pollution in Sonora and solar power generation in Albania but also to celebrate the delightful randomness of the natural world, kind of like when you find a dollar in a coat pocket – surprising, rewarding, and slightly whimsical.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

In their seminal work, Smith et al. (2015) examined the correlation between air pollution in various regions and renewable energy sources. Their findings underscore the intricate interplay between environmental factors and energy generation, paving the way for further exploration of unexpected connections. As we navigate through this perplexing partnership between air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania, it's important to keep in mind the gravity of our scholarly pursuit and also the levity of our puns - they're quite "punny", aren't they?

Doe and Jones (2017) expanded on this notion by highlighting the unanticipated relationships that can emerge within the realm of environmental phenomena. Their work emphasized the importance of approaching scientific inquiry with an open mind, ready to embrace the delightful randomness of nature. It's like stumbling upon an old pair of sunglasses while searching for your keys - unexpected, slightly puzzling, yet oddly satisfying.

Turning to non-fiction literature, the works of "Solar Power Solutions: A Global Perspective" by Renewable Energy Experts (2019) provided a comprehensive overview of solar energy utilization across various geographical and climatic contexts. Meanwhile, "The Art of Air Pollution Reduction" by Environmental Advocates (2018) offered valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of air pollution management. These real-world resources offer a deeper understanding of the parameters at play in our investigation - much like getting a crash course in sunbathing from a Californian and a lesson in atmospheric purity from an Albanian.

On the more imaginative side, fictional works such as "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway and "The Airborne Toxic Event" by Don DeLillo capture the essence of environmental experiences, albeit in a more literary and metaphorical manner. The juxtaposition of these two narratives mirrors the puzzling coalescence of air quality and solar power on our research canvas – much like when a sunbeam unexpectedly pierces through a cloud of smog, making you squint as if you've stumbled onto a punchline in a dense fog.

Additionally, the whimsical world of children's entertainment holds surprising relevance to our discourse. Cartoon series such as "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" and "The Magic School Bus" subtly instill ecological concepts in young minds, echoing the intricate interplay between pollution and solar energy in their own animated way. The correlation may not be as obvious as a punchline in a kids' joke, but it's there, waiting to be discovered amidst the cheerful chaos of Saturday morning cartoons.

It's clear that the tale of air pollution in Sonora and solar power in Albania is not just a dry collection of data points and scientific jargon. Instead, it's a delightful dalliance between seemingly unrelated environmental phenomena, much like a pun that catches you off guard with its unexpected relevance. As we glean insights from both real and imagined sources, we're compelled to embrace the whimsy woven into the fabric of this scholarly pursuit.

Stay tuned for more pun-believable findings!

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.You draft the discussion section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Sonora, California and Solar power generated in Albania. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

Here are the title, abstract, literature review, and results sections. Please harken back to 1-2 of the goofy items in the literature review, but pretend to take them completely seriously. Discuss how your results supported the prior research.

Do not write a conclusion. I will add a conclusion after this.

[[TITLE]]
Pollution and Photovoltaics: The Peculiar Pairing of Air Quality in Sonora and Solar Power in Albania

[[ABSTRACT]]
The curious conjunction of air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania has long tantalized researchers with its apparent incongruity. In this study, we diligently delved into this unlikely alliance, utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Information Administration to shed light on this quizzical correlation. Our findings revealed a remarkably robust correlation coefficient of 0.9151248 and a p-value less than 0.01 for the years 2010 to 2018.

It seems that the sun and the smog have struck up a peculiar partnership that defies geographical and atmospheric logic. While it may baffle some, it is clear that air pollution in Sonora has a zestful zephyr-like effect on solar power generation in Albania – a remarkable link between seemingly distant places. One might say they're truly "air-ly" connected!

This unexpected entanglement serves as a poignant reminder that in the realm of environmental phenomena, even the most improbable pairs can unexpectedly align, much like a father's uncanny knack for cracking dad jokes at the most unexpected times.

So, it seems that the dynamic dance between dirty air in Sonora and dazzling solar panels in Albania is not just a mere meteorological medley, but a whimsical waltz of wind and wavelengths. This scholarly scrutiny affirms that amidst the arduous pursuit of understanding natural phenomena, a touch of whimsy and wonder can illuminate the most unlikely connections.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
In their seminal work, Smith et al. (2015) examined the correlation between air pollution in various regions and renewable energy sources. Their findings underscore the intricate interplay between environmental factors and energy generation, paving the way for further exploration of unexpected connections. As we navigate through this perplexing partnership between air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania, it's important to keep in mind the gravity of our scholarly pursuit and also the levity of our puns - they're quite "punny", aren't they?
Doe and Jones (2017) expanded on this notion by highlighting the unanticipated relationships that can emerge within the realm of environmental phenomena. Their work emphasized the importance of approaching scientific inquiry with an open mind, ready to embrace the delightful randomness of nature. It's like stumbling upon an old pair of sunglasses while searching for your keys - unexpected, slightly puzzling, yet oddly satisfying.
Turning to non-fiction literature, the works of "Solar Power Solutions: A Global Perspective" by Renewable Energy Experts (2019) provided a comprehensive overview of solar energy utilization across various geographical and climatic contexts. Meanwhile, "The Art of Air Pollution Reduction" by Environmental Advocates (2018) offered valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of air pollution management. These real-world resources offer a deeper understanding of the parameters at play in our investigation - much like getting a crash course in sunbathing from a Californian and a lesson in atmospheric purity from an Albanian.
On the more imaginative side, fictional works such as "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway and "The Airborne Toxic Event" by Don DeLillo capture the essence of environmental experiences, albeit in a more literary and metaphorical manner. The juxtaposition of these two narratives mirrors the puzzling coalescence of air quality and solar power on our research canvas – much like when a sunbeam unexpectedly pierces through a cloud of smog, making you squint as if you've stumbled onto a punchline in a dense fog.
Additionally, the whimsical world of children's entertainment holds surprising relevance to our discourse. Cartoon series such as "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" and "The Magic School Bus" subtly instill ecological concepts in young minds, echoing the intricate interplay between pollution and solar energy in their own animated way. The correlation may not be as obvious as a punchline in a kids' joke, but it's there, waiting to be discovered amidst the cheerful chaos of Saturday morning cartoons.
It's clear that the tale of air pollution in Sonora and solar power in Albania is not just a dry collection of data points and scientific jargon. Instead, it's a delightful dalliance between seemingly unrelated environmental phenomena, much like a pun that catches you off guard with its unexpected relevance. As we glean insights from both real and imagined sources, we're compelled to embrace the whimsy woven into the fabric of this scholarly pursuit.
Stay tuned for more pun-believable findings!

[[RESULTS]]
The statistical analysis of the data revealed a strong and significant correlation between air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania. The correlation coefficient of 0.9151248 indicates a remarkably robust relationship between these seemingly disconnected phenomena. This correlation value is higher than the probability of a dad refraining from making a dad joke when presented with an opportunity - which essentially means it's impressively high!
The r-squared value of 0.8374534 further supports the strength of this relationship, indicating that approximately 83.7% of the variance in solar power generation in Albania can be explained by the level of air pollution in Sonora. That's a higher percentage than the likelihood of encountering a "son" joke in this paragraph - which is saying something!
With a p-value less than 0.01, the results are statistically significant, providing strong evidence that the observed correlation is unlikely to have occurred by chance. It's as unlikely as finding a polar bear in a desert – a true statistical rarity!
The scatterplot (Fig. 1) visually illustrates the strong positive relationship between air pollution in Sonora and solar power generation in Albania, much like the unlikely bond between a cactus and a solar panel. The points in the scatterplot hug the linear regression line so closely that they seem to be exchanging phone numbers, a clear indication of the tight relationship between the two variables.
This unexpected connection between air pollution in Sonora and solar power generation in Albania may seem as implausible as a penguin in the Sahara, but the data speak for themselves. It appears that even in the realm of environmental phenomena, surprises lurk at every turn, much like the surprise appearance of an unexpected dad joke in an academic paper.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of our study echo the peculiar pairings unearthed in the literature review, shedding light on the unconventional connection between air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania. It appears that these seemingly disparate phenomena are entangled in a web of unlikely synergy, much like a solar panel and a cloud engaging in an ambiguous game of hide-and-seek. Our findings affirm the previously hinted whimsical waltz of wind and wavelengths and add empirical weight to the scholarly speculation and whimsical pondering.

Our statistically robust correlation coefficient of 0.9151248 between air pollution in Sonora and solar power generation in Albania not only validates the earlier explorations but also stands as a testament to the intriguing nature of environmental interplay. This correlation is more reliable than a photovoltaic cell under the Californian sun - it's that strong! The substantial percentage of variance explained by air pollution in Sonora reinforces this unexpected partnership, much like a solid solar panel foundation amidst gusty winds.

The statistically significant relationship unveiled in our results is as striking as finding a solar-powered flashlight in broad daylight – an outright anomaly, yet undeniably captivating. The meticulously constructed scatterplot visually portrays this relationship, resembling the adventurous journey of a gust of wind traversing across continents to power a solar panel. It's a sight as rare as a desert mirage, but undeniably real in its implications.

In light of these whimsical findings, we're compelled to acknowledge the uncanny parallel between our research and a well-crafted dad joke. Just like a dad joke, the connection between air pollution in Sonora and solar power generation in Albania may confound and bewilder, yet it possesses an undeniable allure that encourages further exploration and contemplation. It's as if nature itself has a penchant for tucking away unexpected punchlines amidst its complex tapestry.

As we embrace the scholarly pursuit of understanding this unlikely alliance, we're beckoned to reflect on the inherent charm of these unexpected linkages, recognizing that amidst the serious pursuit of knowledge, a touch of whimsy and wonder can illuminate the most improbable connections. Just like a dad joke in an academic paper, these findings may provoke a quizzical smirk, but they undeniably add a spark of curiosity and levity to the scientific landscape.

The quixotic entanglement of air pollution in Sonora and solar power in Albania stands as a testament to the delightful unpredictability of environmental phenomena. It is a reminder that in the grand tapestry of nature, the most incongruous pairings can unexpectedly align, much like a dad joke in the midst of a serious discussion. As we delve deeper into this charmingly enigmatic connection, the fusion of scientific rigor and whimsical wonder offers a compelling lens through which to view the kaleidoscopic intricacies of our natural world.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.You draft the discussion section of goofy academic research papers that sounds like it belongs based on the title and abstract provided.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Sonora, California and Solar power generated in Albania. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Limit your response to 300 tokens. At the very end, assert that no more research is needed in this area.

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
Pollution and Photovoltaics: The Peculiar Pairing of Air Quality in Sonora and Solar Power in Albania

[[ABSTRACT]]
The curious conjunction of air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania has long tantalized researchers with its apparent incongruity. In this study, we diligently delved into this unlikely alliance, utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Information Administration to shed light on this quizzical correlation. Our findings revealed a remarkably robust correlation coefficient of 0.9151248 and a p-value less than 0.01 for the years 2010 to 2018.

It seems that the sun and the smog have struck up a peculiar partnership that defies geographical and atmospheric logic. While it may baffle some, it is clear that air pollution in Sonora has a zestful zephyr-like effect on solar power generation in Albania – a remarkable link between seemingly distant places. One might say they're truly "air-ly" connected!

This unexpected entanglement serves as a poignant reminder that in the realm of environmental phenomena, even the most improbable pairs can unexpectedly align, much like a father's uncanny knack for cracking dad jokes at the most unexpected times.

So, it seems that the dynamic dance between dirty air in Sonora and dazzling solar panels in Albania is not just a mere meteorological medley, but a whimsical waltz of wind and wavelengths. This scholarly scrutiny affirms that amidst the arduous pursuit of understanding natural phenomena, a touch of whimsy and wonder can illuminate the most unlikely connections.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
The intersection of air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania presents a puzzling conundrum that has left many researchers scratching their heads. It's a bit like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, or a solar panel in a smoggy sky – an endeavor that may seem as unlikely as finding a doctor at a baseball game, but also just as intriguing.
As we embark on this academic odyssey, we must acknowledge the inherent peculiarity of this investigation. It's like trying to map out the connection between a dusty desert town and a country known for its breathtaking coastline, except in this case, the coastline is not just a scenic view, but a beacon of solar energy potential. It's as if California's air pollutants have decided to take a transatlantic trip to bask in the sunny shores of Albania, proving once and for all that air pollution knows no bounds – or time zones for that matter.
In scrutinizing this unlikely companionship, one cannot help but approach the topic with a sense of wonder and amusement, much like stumbling upon a llama at a tea party – unexpected, delightful, and fundamentally inexplicable.
But as startling as this juxtaposition may be, our task remains to unravel the enigmatic entanglement between two seemingly disparate environmental phenomena, much like a cat attempting to unravel a ball of yarn – fumbling yet endlessly captivating.
This investigation seeks not only to shed light on the correlation between air pollution in Sonora and solar power generation in Albania but also to celebrate the delightful randomness of the natural world, kind of like when you find a dollar in a coat pocket – surprising, rewarding, and slightly whimsical.

[[RESULTS]]
The statistical analysis of the data revealed a strong and significant correlation between air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania. The correlation coefficient of 0.9151248 indicates a remarkably robust relationship between these seemingly disconnected phenomena. This correlation value is higher than the probability of a dad refraining from making a dad joke when presented with an opportunity - which essentially means it's impressively high!
The r-squared value of 0.8374534 further supports the strength of this relationship, indicating that approximately 83.7% of the variance in solar power generation in Albania can be explained by the level of air pollution in Sonora. That's a higher percentage than the likelihood of encountering a "son" joke in this paragraph - which is saying something!
With a p-value less than 0.01, the results are statistically significant, providing strong evidence that the observed correlation is unlikely to have occurred by chance. It's as unlikely as finding a polar bear in a desert – a true statistical rarity!
The scatterplot (Fig. 1) visually illustrates the strong positive relationship between air pollution in Sonora and solar power generation in Albania, much like the unlikely bond between a cactus and a solar panel. The points in the scatterplot hug the linear regression line so closely that they seem to be exchanging phone numbers, a clear indication of the tight relationship between the two variables.
This unexpected connection between air pollution in Sonora and solar power generation in Albania may seem as implausible as a penguin in the Sahara, but the data speak for themselves. It appears that even in the realm of environmental phenomena, surprises lurk at every turn, much like the surprise appearance of an unexpected dad joke in an academic paper.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our investigation has unraveled the enigmatic entanglement between air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania, revealing a startlingly robust and statistically significant correlation. It's as if these two seemingly disparate phenomena have formed an unexpected alliance, like a spontaneous collaboration between a cantaloupe and a rock band – entirely surprising, yet undeniably captivating.

The results of our analysis have illuminated a connection that defies geographical and atmospheric logic, much like a rainbow that decides to appear in the dead of night – a dazzling paradox that challenges our conventional understanding of environmental relationships. It's almost as confounding as trying to understand why the bicycle couldn't stand up by itself; it was two-tired.

It appears that the sun and the smog have indeed struck up a peculiar partnership, performing a meteorological pas de deux that transcends borders and boundaries. This unexpected bond serves as a whimsical reminder that even in the sober realm of empirical inquiry, a touch of whimsy can bring unexpected connections to light – much like an impromptu game of musical chairs at a serious banquet.

Therefore, we can confidently assert that no further research is needed in this area, unless, of course, someone discovers that the moon's phases have a direct correlation with the price of cheese in Wisconsin. But until that day comes, we can rest assured that the curious combination of air pollution in Sonora and solar power generation in Albania has been thoroughly explored, much like a particularly elusive dad joke - thoroughly and relentlessly.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of academic journals. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding research, scientific, or academic journal that would publish a paper entited Pollution and Photovoltaics: The Peculiar Pairing of Air Quality in Sonora and Solar Power in Albania. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Eclectic Environmental Studies

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of nonprofit research organizations and associations. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding nonprofit, academic, or scientific association or organization that would sponsor research that resulted in a paper entited Pollution and Photovoltaics: The Peculiar Pairing of Air Quality in Sonora and Solar Power in Albania. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Society for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Research (SSEER)

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide potential search keywords separated by commas. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide potential search keywords for a paper titled Pollution and Photovoltaics: The Peculiar Pairing of Air Quality in Sonora and Solar Power in Albania with an abstract of The curious conjunction of air pollution in Sonora, California, and solar power generation in Albania has long tantalized researchers with its apparent incongruity. In this study, we diligently delved into this unlikely alliance, utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Information Administration to shed light on this quizzical correlation. Our findings revealed a remarkably robust correlation coefficient of 0.9151248 and a p-value less than 0.01 for the years 2010 to 2018.
It seems that the sun and the smog have struck up a peculiar partnership that defies geographical and atmospheric logic. While it may baffle some, it is clear that air pollution in Sonora has a zestful zephyr-like effect on solar power generation in Albania – a remarkable link between seemingly distant places. One might say they're truly "air-ly" connected!
This unexpected entanglement serves as a poignant reminder that in the realm of environmental phenomena, even the most improbable pairs can unexpectedly align, much like a father's uncanny knack for cracking dad jokes at the most unexpected times.
So, it seems that the dynamic dance between dirty air in Sonora and dazzling solar panels in Albania is not just a mere meteorological medley, but a whimsical waltz of wind and wavelengths. This scholarly scrutiny affirms that amidst the arduous pursuit of understanding natural phenomena, a touch of whimsy and wonder can illuminate the most unlikely connections.

ChatGPT:

Air pollution, solar power generation, Sonora, California, Albania, environmental correlation, pollution impact, solar energy, smog effect, geographical correlation, air quality, solar panel efficiency, environmental data analysis

*There is a bunch of Python happening behind the scenes to turn this prompt sequence into a PDF.

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Data details

Air pollution in Sonora, California
Detailed data title: Percentage of days 'unhealthy' or worse air quality in Sonora, CA
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
See what else correlates with Air pollution in Sonora, California

Solar power generated in Albania
Detailed data title: Total solar power generated in Albania in billion kWh
Source: Energy Information Administration
See what else correlates with Solar power generated in Albania

Correlation r = 0.9151248 (Pearson correlation coefficient)
Correlation is a measure of how much the variables move together. If it is 0.99, when one goes up the other goes up. If it is 0.02, the connection is very weak or non-existent. If it is -0.99, then when one goes up the other goes down. If it is 1.00, you probably messed up your correlation function.

r² = 0.8374534 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 83.7% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Solar power generated in Albania) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Air pollution in Sonora, California) over the 9 years from 2010 through 2018.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 0.00054.^Show 0.0005393587874626452000000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme.^Note More specifically the p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme if we had only tested one pair of variables one time.

But I am a p-villain. I absolutely did not test only one pair of variables one time. I correlated hundreds of millions of pairs of variables. I threw boatloads of data into an industrial-sized blender to find this correlation.

Who is going to stop me? p-value reporting doesn't require me to report how many calculations I had to go through in order to find a low p-value!
On average, you will find a correaltion as strong as 0.92 in 0.054% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 1,854 random variables^Note Which I absolutely did.
with the same 8 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 8 because we have two variables measured over a period of 9 years. It's just the number of years minus ( the number of variables minus one ), which in this case simplifies to the number of years minus one.
you would randomly expect to find a correlation as strong as this one.

[ 0.64, 0.98 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
^{Read more about the confidence interval} The confidence interval is an estimate the range of the value of the correlation coefficient, using the correlation itself as an input. The values are meant to be the low and high end of the correlation coefficient with 95% confidence.

This one is a bit more complciated than the other calculations, but I include it because many people have been pushing for confidence intervals instead of p-value calculations (for example: NEJM. However, if you are dredging data, you can reliably find yourself in the 5%. That's my goal!

All values for the years included above: ^Note If I were being very sneaky, I could trim years from the beginning or end of the datasets to increase the correlation on some pairs of variables. I don't do that because there are already plenty of correlations in my database without monkeying with the years.

Still, sometimes one of the variables has more years of data available than the other. This page only shows the overlapping years. To see all the years, click on "See what else correlates with..." link above.

	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Air pollution in Sonora, California (Bad air quality days)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.9774	0	0.287356
Solar power generated in Albania (Billion kWh)	0.0005	0.0008	0.0009	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.002	0.001	0.001

Why this works

Data dredging: I have 25,237 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 636,906,169 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead abused the data to see what correlations shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random.
Lack of causal connection: There is probably^Note Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied.
Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A simple^Note Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.
Very low n: There are not many data points included in this analysis. Even if the p-value is high, we should be suspicious of using so few datapoints in a correlation.

Try it yourself

You can calculate the values on this page on your own! Try running the Python code to see the calculation results. ^{Show the steps to do this.} Step 1: Download and install Python on your computer.

Step 2: Open a plaintext editor like Notepad and paste the code below into it.

Step 3: Save the file as "calculate_correlation.py" in a place you will remember, like your desktop. Copy the file location to your clipboard. On Windows, you can right-click the file and click "Properties," and then copy what comes after "Location:" As an example, on my computer the location is "C:\Users\tyler\Desktop"

Step 4: Open a command line window. For example, by pressing start and typing "cmd" and them pressing enter.

Step 5: Install the required modules by typing "pip install numpy", then pressing enter, then typing "pip install scipy", then pressing enter.

Step 6: Navigate to the location where you saved the Python file by using the "cd" command. For example, I would type "cd C:\Users\tyler\Desktop" and push enter.

Step 7: Run the Python script by typing "python calculate_correlation.py"

If you run into any issues, I suggest asking ChatGPT to walk you through installing Python and running the code below on your system. Try this question:

"Walk me through installing Python on my computer to run a script that uses scipy and numpy. Go step-by-step and ask me to confirm before moving on. Start by asking me questions about my operating system so that you know how to proceed. Assume I want the simplest installation with the latest version of Python and that I do not currently have any of the necessary elements installed. Remember to only give me one step per response and confirm I have done it before proceeding."

# These modules make it easier to perform the calculation
import numpy as np
from scipy import stats

# We'll define a function that we can call to return the correlation calculations
def calculate_correlation(array1, array2):

    # Calculate Pearson correlation coefficient and p-value
    correlation, p_value = stats.pearsonr(array1, array2)

    # Calculate R-squared as the square of the correlation coefficient
    r_squared = correlation**2

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([0,0,0,0,0,0,1.9774,0,0.287356,])
array_2 = np.array([0.0005,0.0008,0.0009,0.001,0.001,0.001,0.002,0.001,0.001,])
array_1_name = "Air pollution in Sonora, California"
array_2_name = "Solar power generated in Albania"

# Perform the calculation
print(f"Calculating the correlation between {array_1_name} and {array_2_name}...")
correlation, r_squared, p_value = calculate_correlation(array_1, array_2)

# Print the results
print("Correlation Coefficient:", correlation)
print("R-squared:", r_squared)
print("P-value:", p_value)

Reuseable content

You may re-use the images on this page for any purpose, even commercial purposes, without asking for permission. The only requirement is that you attribute Tyler Vigen. ^Note Attribution can take many different forms. If you leave the "tylervigen.com" link in the image, that satisfies it just fine. If you remove it and move it to a footnote, that's fine too. You can also just write "Charts courtesy of Tyler Vigen" at the bottom of an article.

You do not need to attribute "the spurious correlations website," and you don't even need to link here if you don't want to. I don't gain anything from pageviews. There are no ads on this site, there is nothing for sale, and I am not for hire.

For the record, I am just one person. Tyler Vigen, he/him/his. I do have degrees, but they should not go after my name unless you want to annoy my wife. If that is your goal, then go ahead and cite me as "Tyler Vigen, A.A. A.A.S. B.A. J.D." Otherwise it is just "Tyler Vigen."

When spoken, my last name is pronounced "vegan," like I don't eat meat.

Full license details.
For more on re-use permissions, or to get a signed release form, see tylervigen.com/permission.

Download images for these variables:

High resolution line chart ^Note The image linked here is a Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG). It is the highest resolution that is possible to achieve. It scales up beyond the size of the observable universe without pixelating. You do not need to email me asking if I have a higher resolution image. I do not. The physical limitations of our universe prevent me from providing you with an image that is any higher resolution than this one.

If you insert it into a PowerPoint presentation (a tool well-known for managing things that are the scale of the universe), you can right-click > "Ungroup" or "Create Shape" and then edit the lines and text directly. You can also change the colors this way.

Alternatively you can use a tool like Inkscape.
High resolution line chart, optimized for mobile
Alternative high resolution line chart
Scatterplot
Portable line chart (png)
Portable line chart (png), optimized for mobile
Line chart for only Air pollution in Sonora, California
Line chart for only Solar power generated in Albania
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Pollution and Photovoltaics: The Peculiar Pairing of Air Quality in Sonora and Solar Power in Albania

View another random correlation

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Correlation ID: 5668 · Black Variable ID: 21274 · Red Variable ID: 23447


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