date: Sat, 14 Apr 2007 12:48:31 +0100
from: "Palmer Dave Mr \(LIB\)" <David.Palmer@uea.ac.uk>
subject: FW: Freedom of Information request (FOI_07-04)
to: "Phil Jones" <p.jones@uea.ac.uk>, "Mcgarvie Michael Mr \(ACAD\) k364" <M.Mcgarvie@uea.ac.uk>

   Phil/Michael,

   As expected, Mr. Eschenbach is not satisfied with our most recent letter.  I guess the
   essential question is whether we have the list of actual sites used for HadCRUT3, and if
   not, who does.... I would like to avoid a formal appeal process here that will simply
   result in where we are at now with the possibility of further appeal to the ICO....

   If the information as Mr. Eschenbach describes simply does not exist here, we can report
   that and I will, if he still doesn't agree, start the formal process of the appeal....



   Cheers, Dave
     ______________________________________________________________________________________

   From: Willis Eschenbach [mailto:willis@taunovobay.com]
   Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2007 2:03 AM
   To: Palmer Dave Mr (LIB)
   Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request (FOI_07-04)

   Dear Mr. Palmer:
   Thank you for your response. However, it does not solve the problem. In your original
   response you said:

     Your request for information received on 28 September now been considered and I can
     report that the information requested is available on non-UEA websites as detailed
     below.
     The Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN-Monthly) page within US National Climate
     Data Centre website provides one of the two US versions of the global dataset and
     includes raw station data. This site is at:
     [1]http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/ghcn-monthly/index.php
     This page is where you can get one of the two US versions of the global dataset, and it
     appears that the raw station data can be obtained from this site.
     Datasets named ds564.0 and ds570.0 can be found at The Climate & Global Dynamics
     Division (CGD) page of the Earth and Sun Systems Laboratory (ESSL) at the National
     Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) site at: [2]http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/cas/tn404/
     Between them, these two datasets have the data which the UEA Climate Research Unit (CRU)
     uses to derive the HadCRUT3 analysis. The latter, NCAR site holds the raw station data
     (including temperature, but other variables as well). The GHCN would give their set of
     station data (with adjustments for all the numerous problems).
     They both have a lot more data than the CRU have (in simple station number counts), but
     the extra are almost entirely within the USA. We have sent all our data to GHCN, so they
     do, in fact, possess all our data.
     In accordance with S. 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 this letter acts as a
     Refusal Notice, and the reasons for exemption are as stated below
     Exemption    Reason

     s. 21, Information accessible to applicant via other means    Some information is
     publicly available on external websites

   While it is good to know that the data is available at those two web sites, that
   information is useless without a list of stations used by Jones et al. to prepare the
   HadCRUT3 dataset. As I said in my request, I am asking for:

     1) A list of the actual sites used by Dr. Jones in the preparation of the HadCRUT3
     dataset, and
     2) A clear indication of where the data for each site is available. This is quite
     important, as there are significant differences between the versions of each site's data
     at e.g. GHCN and NCAR."

   Without knowing the name and WMO number of each site and the location of the source data
   (NCAR, GHCN, or National Met Service), it is not possible to access the information. Thus,
   Exemption 21 does not apply - I still cannot access the data.
   I don't understand why this is so hard. All I am asking for is a simple list of the sites
   and where each site's data is located. Pointing at two huge piles of data and saying, in
   effect, "The data is in there somewhere" does not help at all.
   To clarify what I am requesting, I am only asking for a list of the stations used in
   HadCRUT3, a list that would look like this:

     WMO#     Name     Source
     58457    HangZhou   NCAR
     58659    WenZhou    NCAR
     59316    ShanTou    GHCN
     57516    ChongQing   NMS

   etc. for all of the stations used to prepare the HadCRUT3 temperature data.
   That is the information requested, and it is not available "on non-UEA websites", or
   anywhere else that I have been able to find.
   I appreciate all of your assistance in this matter, and I trust we can get it resolved
   satisfactorily.
   Best regards,
   w.
     ______________________________________________________________________________________

   on 4/12/07 5:22 AM, Palmer Dave Mr (LIB) at David.Palmer@uea.ac.uk wrote:

     Mr. Eschenbach,
     Further to my letter of 15 March, I attach further information regarding your email of 8
     March and the appeal of our decision of 13 February.  Don't hesitate to contact me with
     queries or concerns.
     Cheers, Dave Palmer
     <<Further _information_letter_070411.doc>>
     ____________________________
     David Palmer
     Information Policy Officer
     University of East Anglia
     Norwich, England
     NR4 7TJ

