Michael Mann's Hockey Stick Graph
Michael Mann's hockey stick graph is a widely debated and controversial graph that shows the temperature trends of the earth over the past millennium. The graph was created by Michael Mann, Raymond Bradley, and Malcolm Hughes in 1998 and was published in the scientific journal 'Nature.'
The Hockey Stick Graph: What Is It?
The hockey stick graph shows the temperature trends of the earth from 1000 AD to the present day. The graph shows a relatively stable temperature trend from 1000 AD until the late 1800s, followed by a sharp increase in temperature in the 1900s.
The graph is called a 'hockey stick' because it shows a long, flat handle that represents the relatively stable temperature trend up until the late 1800s, followed by a sharp increase in temperature that resembles the blade of a hockey stick.
The Climate Change Debate
The hockey stick graph has become a key part of the climate change debate. Supporters of the graph argue that it provides evidence for the theory of man-made climate change, while critics argue that it is flawed and unreliable.
Critics of the hockey stick graph argue that the data used to create the graph is incomplete and that certain data sets were selectively chosen to support the graph's conclusion. They also argue that the statistical methods used to create the graph are flawed and that the graph does not accurately represent the temperature trends of the earth over the past millennium.
Supporters of the hockey stick graph argue that the data used to create the graph is robust and that multiple independent studies have confirmed the graph's conclusions. They also argue that the statistical methods used to create the graph are widely accepted and that the graph accurately represents the temperature trends of the earth over the past millennium.
The Mann vs. McIntyre Controversy
The hockey stick graph was at the center of a controversy between Michael Mann and Steve McIntyre, a Canadian statistician.
McIntyre argued that the statistical methods used to create the hockey stick graph were flawed and that the graph did not accurately represent the temperature trends of the earth over the past millennium. Mann responded by defending the statistical methods used to create the graph and arguing that McIntyre's criticisms were unfounded.
The controversy between Mann and McIntyre has continued for over a decade and has become a key part of the debate surrounding the hockey stick graph and the theory of man-made climate change.
The Debate Continues
The debate surrounding the hockey stick graph and the theory of man-made climate change continues to this day.
While some scientists continue to support the conclusions of the hockey stick graph and the theory of man-made climate change, others remain skeptical and argue that the data is inconclusive.
Regardless of which side of the debate one supports, the hockey stick graph remains one of the most controversial and widely debated scientific graphs of our time.
