date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:04:11 -0400 from: "Wahl, Eugene R" subject: personal to: "Phil Jones" Hi Phil: Sorry to hear this, but as you mention, it is no surprise. I've been purposefully demure in my comments about MM. In complete confidence (please share with no one), I will now mention that they formally petitioned NCAR and its parent organization UCAR to have them force Caspar and me to alter the Wahl-Ammann paper in fall 2005, based on a series of charges related in spirit to those you mention below . They also made complaint at this time about some comments Kevin Trenberth had made. There was an implied threat of legal action to UCAR. NCAR had their legal staff look into this, and they concluded that there was no impropriety of any kind, neither scientifically nor in terms of a media advisory that UCAR published on the "hockey stick" that was released at the time one of the M's was making a public presentation in Washington. In addition to this, the UCAR president mentioned in his response letter that it was highly unusual for such a request to be brought forth, and it was outside the bounds of normal scientific procedure -- to ask the organization to intervene in the relationship between authors and editors (the mss was still our explicit private property at the time because it was still in the review process, and subject to substantial change). If you have interest in seeing the original letter from MM and the response, let me know. So, we are aware of what MM are capable of, at least in the general sense that you mention below -- any kind of misinterpretation and misrepresentation possible will be used, along with threats to us and to our organizations. Any reflection you care to offer on how you are dealing with their claim of "fabrication" in your case would be worth hearing. I wish you strength. Peace, Gene ******************************* Dr. Eugene R. Wahl Asst. Professor of Environmental Studies Alfred University 1 Saxon Drive Alfred NY, 14802 607.871.2604 -----Original Message----- From: Phil Jones [mailto:p.jones@uea.ac.uk] Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 5:16 AM To: Wahl, Eugene R Subject: RE: Ammann-Wahl paper Gene, When you're with Caspar can you remind him about the Wengen paper? Enjoy the two trips. I doubt MM and CA will express any surprise at your fairness. They will misinterpret any which way they can. They are now having a go at my paper from 1990 in Nature. I am now accused of fabrication ! The data analysed were 42 pairs of annual station averages (one rural set and one urban) for 30 years (1954-1983). There is not much that can be done with such short series or so few. I averaged the 42 sites together in each set and looked at trends over the 30 years - end of story. The only thing about China is that rural isn't that rural by western standards. Cheers Phil At 17:05 18/06/2007, you wrote: >Thanks Phil, and for the shot in the arm about " You'll be glad when >the two papers are out, despite what CA says". > >I think you are quite right. And Steve Schneider handled the entire >process very well with extensive review and re-review. And we >responded in detail to all comments, of every kind. MM may actually >be a bit surprised in the second paper -- I think we are very fair >with what we say overall about their critiques, and the seriousness >with which we take their critiques, e.g., the verification RE >benchmarking issue. However, since scientific balance is apparently >not their target, I am sure that the head of steam up will occur. > >Please note that I will be out of contact June 20-July 9, and then >with Caspar at NCAR through August 8. Regular email contact during >the NCAR month. > >Peace, Gene >________________________________ > >From: Phil Jones [mailto:p.jones@uea.ac.uk] >Sent: Mon 6/18/2007 3:46 AM >To: Wahl, Eugene R >Subject: RE: Ammann-Wahl paper > > Gene, > Don't worry about asking. I fully understand. I will get around > to reading the paper in the next week or so. When the two come > out (Nov I think you said) expect CA to be a head of steam up. > They have at the moment re exposure of US HCN sites and also > IPCC's dealing with reviews of the paleo chapter and the author's > responses. > > You'll be glad when the two papers are out, despite what CA says. > > I have had some threats - mainly directed at one of my co-author's > from a paper in 1990 on urbanization effects. The threat is that the > person will send a letter to his University (in this case SUNY at Albany) > saying the research is flawed. It isn't of course, but it is a sign of the > times. The threat is that he should withdraw his contribution to my > paper from Nature ! > > Cheers > Phil > > >At 20:55 15/06/2007, you wrote: > >You are welcome, Phil. Thanks for the sensitivity, only sorry to > >have to ask. We'd be curious to hear your thoughts. > > > >Peace, Gene > >________________________________ > > > >From: Phil Jones [mailto:p.jones@uea.ac.uk] > >Sent: Fri 6/15/2007 4:50 AM > >To: Wahl, Eugene R; juerg@giub.unibe.ch > >Subject: RE: Ammann-Wahl paper > > > > Gene, > > Thanks for the paper. Fully understand the issues, so will > > keep within CRU - well just Keith and Tim and then only > > if necessary. > > > > Cheers > > Phil > > > > > >At 02:38 15/06/2007, Wahl, Eugene R wrote: > > >Hi Phil and Juerg: > > > > > >Here is the Ammann-Wahl paper as promised. We received letter of > > >final acceptance and movement to "in press" status yesterday from > > >Stephen Schneider. We would ask that distribution be kept limited > > >until it actually comes out in hard copy (scheduled for the November > > >2007 issue of Climatic Change) so that its chances of getting to > > >McIntyre (et al.) are reduced, and thus the the probability is > > >decreased that he/they will have chance to attack it before it is > > >fully available to the public--as they almost certainly would if the > > >opportunity arises. Weird to need to consider such things, but that > > >is the state of our science re: this particular paper. > > > > > >However, you should certainly feel free to share it within your > > >research groups. > > > > > >Peace, Gene > > >Dr. Eugene R. Wahl > > >Asst. Professor of Environmental Studies > > >Alfred University > > > > > >607-871-2604 > > >1 Saxon Drive > > >Alfred, NY 14802 > > > > > > > > > >Prof. Phil Jones > >Climatic Research Unit Telephone +44 (0) 1603 592090 > >School of Environmental Sciences Fax +44 (0) 1603 507784 > >University of East Anglia > >Norwich Email p.jones@uea.ac.uk > >NR4 7TJ > >UK > >----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- > > > >Prof. Phil Jones >Climatic Research Unit Telephone +44 (0) 1603 592090 >School of Environmental Sciences Fax +44 (0) 1603 507784 >University of East Anglia >Norwich Email p.jones@uea.ac.uk >NR4 7TJ >UK >----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- > Prof. Phil Jones Climatic Research Unit Telephone +44 (0) 1603 592090 School of Environmental Sciences Fax +44 (0) 1603 507784 University of East Anglia Norwich Email p.jones@uea.ac.uk NR4 7TJ UK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----