date: Tue, 08 Mar 2005 10:41:54 +0100
from: Heinz Wanner <wanner@giub.unibe.ch>
subject: Hockeystick
to: k.briffa@uea.ac.uk

Dear Keith,

I am quite amused about the fact that everybody wants to express his/her
concern about the hocheystick story. It is in a certain sense ridiculous,
on the other hand we have to define our position.

I had to give several interviews (TV, radio, newspapers) but tried just to
explain science. Now an old story is warmed up. I was a reviewer of the
IPCC-TAR report 2001. In my review which I can not find again in its
precise wording I critcized the fact that the whole Mann hockeytick is
being printed in its full length in the IPCC-TAR report. In 1999 I made the
following comments:

1. The spatial, temporal (tree-ring data in the midlatitudes mainly contain
"summer information") and spectral coverage and behaviour of the data is
questionable, mainly before 1500-1600 AD.
2. It is in my opinion not appropriate already to make statements for the
southern hemisphere and for the period prior to 1500 AD.

My review was classified "unsignificant" even I inquired several times. Now
the internationally well known newspaper SPIEGEL got the information about
these early statements because I expressed my opinion in several talks,
mainly in Germany, in 2002 and 2003. I  just refused to give an exclusive
interview to SPIEGEL because I will not cause damage for climate science. I
just told a woman from SPIEGEL that I do carefully follow the activities
and the forthcoming of the next IPCC report and I will then take position
concerning the paleoclimate chapter there. I thought it is meaningful to
infomr you about this fact.

Cheers,   Heinz


---------------------------------------------------------------
          Dr. Heinz Wanner, Prof., Director  of NCCR
    (National Center of Competence in Research in Climate)
---------------------------------------------------------------

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              e-mail:  heinz.wanner@giub.unibe.ch
---------------------------------------------------------------


