Global warming warning

You've got to laugh. (Well, I did.) From The Great Beyond blog: "Earlier this week climate change sceptics were receiving an email from one Dr Mark Cox. In this email Dr Cox implored them to write about a tale of “treatment of some academic colleagues by what seems like a kind of ‘climate change mafia’”. Cox’s colleagues had discovered evidence that overthrew the idea of man-made global warming, the email said. Those who took this email at face value are now looking rather foolish. But why did “Dr Mark Cox” create a fictional journal, write a bogus paper, invent authors, reviewers and implore sceptics to write about the paper? Read on..."

Let's hear from one of the climate-sceptic blogs, Peer Review Florida: "I, along with a number of other bloggers, and even Rush Limbaugh, apparently, fell for what has turned out to be a complete hoax.  A made up abstract published at the website of a fake science journal purports to explain global warming by monitoring bacteria emissions.  As I stated in the post, I can't claim to understand the research which formed the basis of the argument in the paper, which is now obvious as it was totally made up."

After the story blew, the Great Beyond got the interview. "After attempting to get hold of the person behind the 'Journal of Geoclimatic Studies' we were contacted by “Dr Mark Cox”. Well, it’s someone who said they were Dr Cox, it could be someone spoofing the spoofer but you have to trust people at some point, even if they are claiming to be people who construct elaborate hoax[e]s." The text of the (spoof?) interview of the (spoof?) interviewee follows.

I'll leave the last word on this little story to a comment to the Peer Review Florida post above: "  "Global warming cultists"? You posted your whole-hearted support for a hoax, not because of sound science, but because it said what you wanted to hear. If the scientists that follow the evidence are "cultists", then what do you call people who cherry pick any data that supports their point of view, no matter how easily shown it is a hoax, and disregard the rest?"

If you want trustworthy information on climate science at an accessible level, try Nature Reports Climate Change, Editor, the estimable Olive Heffernan.

Comments

[Norm]

What difference does it make what it is that is causing global warming?
Even if it is a natural phenomena [sun spots or cows], and nothing to do with man wasting energy by driving gas guzzling SUVs and flying to Prague every weekend for stag/hen nights.
The world is getting warmer, and it must be better for our environment, and our bank balance, if we do take energy saving measures even if they don't have any major effect on reversing the warming.

[Dave K.]

I love a successful hoax, no matter the politics involved. It's just so gratifying to see the pompous deflated.

[Maxine]

Rational people, without vested interests, would of course agree with you, Norm.
Agreed, Dave -- a better target than JKR (who is not pompous) in my opinion ;-)