Letter: Climategate candour

From Trevor Davies, University of East Anglia (UEA)

Readers may depend on your editorial to form their opinion of “climategate” (17 July, p 3). Regrettably, while it contains some fair points, there is enough distortion and imprecision remaining to perpetuate the sense that there is still a case to answer on the science. This is despite clear findings supporting the honesty and integrity of our scientists in all three independent investigations into the affair.

To address some specific issues. You quote Ron Oxburgh’s statement that his investigation was not concerned with the science. However, in his report he notes that his panel was concerned with “whether as far as could be determined the conclusions represented an honest and scientifically justified interpretation of the data“. This seems entirely consistent with the way research works – with conclusions becoming less provisional over time, until they approach the elevated status of “fact” or are replaced by different conclusions. In the observational sciences, that process develops through the honestly and scientifically justified interpretation of data. Similarly, several questions in Muir Russell’s review directly addressed the science, including a specific examination of reproducability. The panel found of colleagues in the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) that “their rigour and honesty as scientists are not in doubt“.

In addition, CRU’s research has been peer-reviewed for top-rate journals and reaches similar conclusions to that of many other groups around the world using a variety of variables and indicators. Although peer review is not perfect, it is a rigorous test of the science conducted and its findings.

We fully accept that we should in most circumstances have been more helpful in responding to queries. However, we reject the suggestion that we have failed to meet our legal obligations to share data “even with… critics”. On these and other matters of fact we found the editorial wanting, and a further discussion can be found on the UEA website.

Norwich, UK