sumfile <- read.csv('https://dl.dropbox.com/s/zy6b5mjcu7uteof/data_all_PAR_max.csv')
codename = "EXEM"
descriptor = "max"
radtype = "PAR"
totYrs = c(1997:2015)
ylbl = expression("PAR " ~ (mu ~ mol ~ photons ~ m^{-2} ~ s^{-1}))
clr = "blue"

group <- melt(sumfile,  id.vars = 'date', variable.name = 'series')
setnames(group, old = c('date','series','value'), new = c('Date','Year',radtype))
group$Date <- as.Date(group$Date)
# group <- na.omit(group) # uncommenting resolves error!
o <- order(group$Date)
lo <- loess(PAR ~ as.numeric(Date), span = 0.25, data=group)

plot(group$Date,group$PAR,pch=19,cex=0.1, col=clr,
     xlab ="Date",
     ylab = ylbl,
    main = paste('Loess curve for', descriptor, radtype, 'from', min(totYrs), 'to',
              max(totYrs), 'nmeasured at', codename, 'met',sep=' '))
lines(group$Date[o], lo$fitted[o], col='red', lwd=1)

points(group$Date[o], lo$fitted[o], col='red', lwd=1)

for (i in totYrs) {
  tryCatch({
    yval <- paste(radtype, i, descriptor,sep='_')

    sumfile$date <- as.Date(sumfile$date)
    lo_ <- eval(parse(text = paste("loess(", yval, "~ as.numeric(date),
                                 span = 0.25, data=sumfile)")))
    oo <- order(sumfile$date)
    plot(sumfile$date, eval(parse(text = paste("sumfile$",yval))),
         pch=19,cex=0.1, col=clr,
         xlab ="Date",
         ylab = ylbl,
         main = paste('Loess curve for', descriptor, radtype, 'measured atn',
                      codename, 'met during', i, '/', i+1, 'field season',sep=' '))
    lines(sumfile$date[oo], lo_$fitted[oo], col='red', lwd=1)
  }, error=function(e){print("One or more years was not plotted because there was no data")})
}

sumfile$date <- as.Date(sumfile$date)
no_na <- na.omit(subset(sumfile, select=c(date,PAR_2013_max)))
lo13 <- loess(PAR_2013_max ~ as.numeric(date), span = 0.25, data=no_na)
oo <- order(sumfile$date)
plot(sumfile$date, sumfile$PAR_2013_max)
lines(sumfile$date[oo], lo13$fitted[oo], col='red', lwd=1)