HOCKEY STICK GRAPH HAS TEAMS FEUDING February 15, 2005 The
latest debate over global warming focuses on a well-publicized
graph depicting temperatures over the past 1,000 years, but some
observers argue the graph, which is known as the "hockey stick,"
is inaccurate. Created by Dr. Michael Mann of the University of
Virginia, the graph indicates fairly stable temperatures up
until the 20th century, and a sharp acceleration over the last
century, graphically depicting the shape of a hockey stick.
However, Stephen McIntyre, a minerals consultant from Toronto,
first disputed the calculations behind the graph, and his
skepticism now has scientists questioning its accuracy as well.
According to McIntyre and other skeptics: - Dr. Mann's
mathematical technique in drawing the graph is prone to
generating hockey-stick shapes even when applied to random data,
therefore, McIntyre argues, it proves nothing. - Statistician
Francis Zwiers of Environment Canada, a government agency, says
he now agrees that Dr. Mann's statisti