[Steely Tom]

They already admitted in their emails that they would rather delete the data before handing it over to anyone else. Well, there you go.

And the obvious reason (well, maybe not so obvious) they're taking this line is because they know that if the original data were made available it would become clear that they had engaged in bald-faced scientific fraud, of the variety that has gotten a number of "scientists" drummed out of their profession, and out of academia, in recent years.

By saying "the dog ate the data," they leave the fraud question open forever (they think) and thereby leave open the possibility that, given the soft-headedness of the academic community when it comes to policing it's own, they'll be able to skate by on tenure and keep their jobs (although some may be saying bye-bye to the nice office with the picture-window view of the Quad and hello to the basement room with the banging steam pipes, next door to the vibration lab).

This may or may not work. I find it very hard to believe that at least some of this data wasn't archived, or at least written down in notebooks. People make back-up copies of things. Some may mysteriously "reappear" or get "undeleted" when the charges and counter-charges start to fly.

[browardchad]

This may or may not work. I find it very hard to believe that at least some of this data wasn't archived, or at least written down in notebooks. People make back-up copies of things. Some may mysteriously "reappear" or get "undeleted" when the charges and counter-charges start to fly.

If they did ditch the data in 1980, (before Jones became Director, of course), then exactly what pre-1980 data have they been using for their models?

And where's the raw data for the 29 years since 1980? Did they throw that out also?

This really smells.

[SteamShovel]

I find it very hard to believe that at least some of this data wasn't archived, or at least written down in notebooks.

It is unbelievable...unless they never used real data.?!?

If the data really does prove AGW, they would have guarded to preserve the only proof a real scientist would believe.

If the data really did not prove AGW without "adjusting" for the desired outcome, then I suspect they would still have saved it because future research may be possible.

Either they never had data, or they are lying their pants off. Either case is criminal, prosecutable, and academic misconduct worthy of losing their positions and credentials.

[chris_bdba]

IMHO all of their computers both work and home need the hard drives taken now so anything that was ever on them can be extracted to see if it all can be retrived or at least some of it that is still there.