The scientific data, that could restore the shattered reputations of researchers accused of hiding the recent decline in average global temperatures, is gone.

SCIENTISTS at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have admitted throwing away much of the raw temperature data on which their predictions of global warming are based…It means that other academics are not able to check basic calculations said to show a long-term rise in temperature over the past 150 years…The data were gathered from weather stations around the world and then adjusted to take account of variables in the way they were collected. The revised figures were kept, but the originals — stored on paper and magnetic tape — were dumped to save space when the CRU moved to a new building. — Times Online U.K.

Of course, you’re going to hear from skeptics that the so-called ‘climategate conspirators’ destroyed the raw data to prevent challenges to their anthropogenic (man-made) global warming theory.

However, assuming the researchers are really diligent scientists whose claims never exceed the empirical evidence, the fact that their raw data has disappeared may prevent them from mounting an immediate, credible defense. If they’re genuine scientists, and not simply socialist environmental activists, the loss of these data is the worst thing that could happen to them.

Here’s hoping the lost information surfaces so they can salvage their imperiled careers.

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