Data visualizations practice

The data: 

Decade    Global temperate in °C
1881-1890 13.68 

1891-1900 13.67
1901-1910 13.59
1911-1920 13.64
1921-1930 13.76
1931-1940 13.89
1941-1950 13.95
1951-1960 13.92
1961-1970 13.93
1971-1980 13.95
1981-1990 14.12
1991-2000 14.26
2001-2010 14.47

How the data appears in a bar graph if plotted with the Y-axis starting at 13.4:

How the data appears in a bar graph if plotted with the Y-axis starting at 0.

For time-series data I think the line graph is much better suited as a data visualization. The same data if plotted as a line graph:

 

First, with the Y-axis starting at 13.4:

 

And now with a normal, unbroken Y axis that starts at zero:

When you resort to such gimmickry to buttress your point, it not only hurts your credibility but also harms the cause.

Update: what if we decide to plot the inter-decade differences in temperatures as a percentage difference? Would that make a difference? Perhaps, but here again, the choice of scale you use makes a huge difference in perception.

Using a scale to maximize differences.

 

Using a scale that ranges from -10% to +10%

Using a scale that ranges from -100% to +100%: