Update: Climate Change emails hacked. Earth still on fire.

I could really go for an Earth omelet about now.

[Image: "Earth Egg," from the CC-licensed Flickr stream of azrainman]

BoingBoing has a great article discussing the recent hacked emails from the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit. I didn’t read much into this story, because when I read the email, there was nothing in there that even looked like it was a part of some massive Al Gore sized conspiracy theory, as many conservativeve pundits have claimed. However, to be fair, I also have the cunning ability to comprehend what I read, so that could just be me.  When I had first heard of this story, naturally the headlines made it seem like the worlds scientists where engaged in some secret agenda…. out to push… clean energy and solar panels? I mean honestly…. I have no idea what the pluses of such a massive conspiracy would be… besides of course, not catching on fire when you walk outside.

For those of you NOT in the know, here is the email in question that has sparked the conspiracy theory.

From: Phil Jones
To: ray bradley ,mann@[snipped], mhughes@
[snipped]
Subject: Diagram for WMO Statement
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 13:31:15 +0000
Cc: k.briffa@[snipped],t.osborn@[snipped]
Dear Ray, Mike and Malcolm,

Once Tim’s got a diagram here we’ll send that either later
today or first thing tomorrow. I’ve just completed Mike’s Nature
trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20
years (ie from 1981 onwards) amd [sic] from1961 for Keith’s to
hide the decline. Mike’s series got the annual land and marine
values while the other two got April-Sept for NH land N of 20N.
The latter two are real for 1999, while the estimate for 1999
for NH combined is +0.44C wrt 61-90. The Global estimate for
1999 with data through Oct is +0.35C cf. 0.57 for 1998.

Thanks for the comments, Ray.

Cheers, Phil

If you were unable to find the “conspiracy” in there, let me help you. Phil Jones has asked for some of his numbers to be sexed up, in an attempt to make the report look nicer. The actual climate numbers are correct, he has just asked for them to be upped a little. As to why he asked for this, no one knows. I can only assume he wished to make his report look even more important. How one scientists personal report on his own findings, relates to the entire world’s base of climate data, is beyond me. It would be like assuming all Ford cars were shitty because one dealer in Nebraska tried to sell you a lemon. (Note- all Ford cars ARE shitty)

However, nut jobs around the world see this as proof of our climate overlords impending collapse.

For a break down of the events and some recently updated information, head on over to BoingBoing.com

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