Before the ABC: Locust Plagues

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 2 April 1890, page 8

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 23 April 1890, page 8

The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 10 May 1890, page 12

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 6 November 1890, page 5

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 20 November 1890, page 5

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 4 December 1890 Page 6

The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 12 December 1890, page 5

Inspired by: Locusts hatch near Nyngan; Locust plagues could cost Australia billions

Before the ABC: an occasional snapshot of news in the days BABC

Mt Everest melting! But who says it's so? Apparently no-one!

ABC Audience and consumer affairs provide the following reply in regard to a complaint about its report "Melting ice making Everest climbs dangerous".

Received September 2, 2010

Thank you for your further emails of 3 and 9 August.
As previously advised, the ABC sourced the report it published as 'Melting ice making Everest climbs dangerous' from the BBC as part of an established agency arrangement.  When your complaint was received, Audience and Consumer Affairs considered whether a significant error had been made which warranted correction.  We noted that table 10.2 of the Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007 did appear to show temperatures rising faster at Mount Everest than in the rest of South Asia.  (Ed. unfortunately it didn't  - see HERE and  HERE and HERE) We do not claim that this was the source relied upon by the BBC in their original story.
We have noted the material you have provided questioning the veracity of a statement in the report (HERE).  Since we have not been able to verify a source for the references to climate, and in view of the brevity and overall focus of the item, we have removed these references from the story and added an Editor's Note to this effect.

Yours sincerely,
Head, Audience and Consumer Affairs

The editorial note reads "Editor's note (September 1, 2010): A reference to studies of climate in the Himalayas has been removed from this story because the ABC was not able to verify its source."

Without a credible, verifiable source this story amounted to unsubstantiated rumour, and now without the climate aspect it is hardly newsworthy and probably should have been left in the editor's bin. If only ABC News had spent a small amount of time checking its sources before getting carried away with unsubstantiated claims of climate alarm, ABC's audience would not have been mislead.  We have yet to receive a response from the BBC. 

We thank ABC Audience and Consumer affairs for taking the time to properly investigate this matter.

Score +1

See also Himalayan warming – pulling another thread from IPCC’s fragile tapestry.

Our earlier reports on this story:

June 4 Mt Everest melting! But who says it's so?

August 4 Update: Mt Everest melting! But who says it's so?

August 9  Update 2: Mt Everest melting! But who says it's so?

ABC accept expert's half truths

ABC have replied to our complaint (Half truths in hot weather story) that covered factual inadequacies in a report by ABC environment report Sarah Clarke. The report 2010 on track to be hottest year was based on half truths promulgated by BOM's Dr David Jones. 

These included the following:

Half truth: “We actually got into the low 50s for parts of the Middle East and Pakistan a couple of weeks back”

Truth: Parts of the Middle East and Pakistan record temperatures into the low 50’s pretty much every year.

Half truth: Beijing the other day just fell short of 41.

Truth: The recorded temperature was 40.3 (104.5F).http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/photo/2010-07/05/content_10067517.htm. Note that this "record" is based on Beijing’s official temperature records commencing in 1951. See reports of earlier heat waves in the original post that indicate higher temperatures have been recorded in Beijing, including one at 46.1C..

Half truth: We're seeing 40s right up and down the US eastern seaboard.

Note 40 C is 104 F

Truth: Perhaps 40 at just one location!

Half Truth: We have seen an increase in heatwaves in Australia in the last 30 to 50 years

Truth: And what about the 30-50 years prior?

ABC respond (received 1/9/2010): "With regard to your concerns about the accuracy of statements made by Dr David Jones, a senior climatologist at the weather bureau's National Climate Centre, the ABC does not consider opinions or the views of a specialist commentator to constitute factual content; therefore, it is not subject to the accuracy provisions outlined in the ABC’s Editorial Policies.  However, while there is no obligation to fact check opinion, it is expected that the specialist commentator or expert is properly qualified to speak to the subject at hand, and that their views are clearly attributed. 

On review, Audience and Consumer Affairs is satisfied that Dr Jones is appropriately credentialed to comment on temperature trends, and that the views he expressed were properly attributed.  While noting the points you make, we are satisfied that there was sufficient context in the story, and that it is in keeping with the ABC’s standards for accuracy."

The lesson: Don't rely on ABC's biased experts to provide the full story.

In relation to Sarah Clarke's reporting Andrew Bolt has this piece that might interest: Modern Journalism.

More errors in ABC's climate time lie-Cobalt the new terror

In our initial complaint to the ABC regarding its web presentation "A journey through climate history" we indicated the timeline was "riddled with errors". We provided ABC with a list of 12 items that required attention. ABC subsequently made 7 corrections, but made no changes to sections we considered biased. We suggested that the Timeline undergo a rigorous review to pick up other problems "A thorough audit of the content is required." 

Here are 30 additional mistakes for ABC to correct. The most telling probably being the confusion between the symbols for Cobalt  (Co) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). In its defective timeline ABC blame Cobalt for ocean acidification, the enhanced greenhouse effect and suggest the world is endeavouring to sequester Cobalt underground. It also seems the Keeling curve is also not a measure of carbon dioxide but of the rare Cobalt compound Co2!
There is also confusion between paleoanthropologists and archeologists; confusion between the roles of geology and archeology; confusion between the location of Vostok and Law Dome bases in Antarctica; along with software glitches that reveal an infinitely old universe, and numerous spelling and grammatical mistakes. "Riddled with errors"is an understatement.

30 additional errors - A Journey through climate history 

1. Under section “Deep Time” it is possible to scroll the timeline over 1000 billion years into the past (screenshot right). Current estimates for the age of the universe are two orders of magnitude less. That is some software glitch. 
2. Cryogenian Ice Age: Missing apostrophe, missing capitalization “earths orbit” 
3. Carboniferous Period: Missing apostrophe “weve” 
4. Karoo Ice Age: Inconsistency between statements of causation of glaciers between the Huronian Ice Age and the Karoo Ice Age. 
5. KT Boundary: “the KT boundary is an archeological term” the term is in fact geological. Also missing plural “researcher” 
6. Antarctic Ice Sheets: missing capitalization “the” 
7. Homo Habilis and Homo Ergaster: extraneous “-” in “hand-y man”. Discovered by paleoanthropologists not archeologists. 
8. Pleistocene Glaciations: The pattern of temperature, CO2 and methane follow an almost identical pattern, however changes in temperature precede changes in CO2 and methane concentrations by about 1000 years. 
9. Mount “Tobra” eruption: Should be “Toba”. Ice ages last longer than “6 years” 
10. Art and culture: unnecessary question mark “verbal? language” 
11. Olmec Culture: unnecessary capitalization “Volcanic” 
12. Carbon dioxide level 1000AD: Readability-“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
13. Carbon dioxide level 1250AD: Readability-“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements” Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
14. Carbon dioxide level 1500AD: Readability -“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
15. Carbon dioxide level 1750AD: Readability -“CO2 Measure” should read “CO2 measurement”. Also, unnecessary capitalization “Measure”; and misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
16. Human population is 978 million (1800): shows a photo of Istanbul from 1880-1900 when world population is estimated at 1.65 billion. 
17. Carbon dioxide level 1800AD: Readability -“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
18. Carbon dioxide level 1850AD: Readability -“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
19. Ocean pH level is 8.17: This post indicates that cobalt is responsible for ocean acidification. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
20. Carbon dioxide level 1900AD: Readability -“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
21. Nitrogen Fertilizers 1913: Suggests the Habar Bosch process has increased Cobalt levels. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
22. Ocean pH level is 8.15: This post indicates that cobalt is responsible for ocean acidification. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
23. Carbon dioxide level 1950AD: Readability -“CO2 measure” should read “CO2 measurements”. Also misrepresents location of Law Dome, suggesting it is close to the Vostok Base. Coordinates: Law Dome -66° 44' 0.00", +112° 50' 0.00" Vostok 78°27′51.92″S 106°50′14.38″E. 
24. 1958 The Keeling Curve: Does not measure atmospheric Cobalt levels. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
25. Ocean pH level is 8.12: This post indicates that cobalt is responsible for ocean acidification. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
26. Human population is 6 billion: Spelling “grown” should read “growth”. World population from 1800 to 1900 grew by about 170%, not 69%. 
27. Carbon capture and storage: Implies Cobalt being captured and stored. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
28. Ocean pH level is 8.09: This post indicates that cobalt is responsible for ocean acidification. The incorrect symbol has been used for oxygen in the chemical formula for carbon dioxide “Co2”. Should read CO2. Co is the chemical symbol for Cobalt. 
29. The Kyoto Protocal. As far as we know the only organisation that can ratify the treaty is a nation state, use of the word “parties” in this context is not appropriate. 
30. The Great Global Warming Swindle: Capitalisation – “channel 4” should read “Channel 4”.

Reform the IPCC

ABC provide a brief report titled Review calls for UN climate shake-up on the findings of the Inter Academy Council (IAC) report on IPCC structure and process. The complete IAC report is available HERE, and HERE. 

 Yesterday we highlighted missing opinions on the IPCC process by Ross McKitrick, professor of economics at the University of Guelph, who stated "The IPCC “peer review” process is not like the one academic journals use, in which reviewers actually have the authority to recommend rejection and require changes; instead it is more like a limited, voluntary public comment process. Since the IPCC gives Lead Authors the sole right to determine content and accept or dismiss comments, it is more like a weblog than an academic report."

Based on the IAC report findings it seems like McKitrick's comments had some merit.

Readers may be interested in an overview of the reports' findings by climate researcher Roger Pielke Jnr titled 

"Report of the IAC Review of the IPCC". This highlights the following statement from the report "If adopted in their entirety, the measures recommended in this report would fundamentally reform IPCC’s management structure while enhancing its ability to conduct an authoritative assessment."

Interesting considering ABC yesterday featured a report with the rather "optimistic" headline: 

UN hopes science review eases climate scepticism that quoted head of the Nairobi-based UN Environment Program (UNEP) Achim Steiner as saying "I'd be surprised, though I don't know, if there are fundamental changes" to the way the IPCC works, he said. 

Seems like someone is in for a rude shock. 


Here are a few headlines from other sources:
Telegraph (UK):  Flawed Science
New York Times: Flaws Found in U.N. Climate Structure
The Hindu:  Sharp criticism for IPCC leadership
Times of India: Pachauri-led IPCC needs fundamental reforms: UN panel
AFP: UN climate panel ordered to make fundamental reforms


Update: Dr Roy Spencer add his thoughts...Dump the IPCC Process, It Cannot Be Fixed

From the vault - how many little horses?

ABC News Online – 10 June 2008
THE COMPLAINT
An online reader pointed out an error in a story dealing with the development of a management plan for brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park. The reader observed that the number of horses should have been reported as 1,700 and not 17,000.
RESPONSE: The ABC acknowledged the error, corrected the figure and added an Editor's Note.
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/documents/public_report_apr-jun_2008.pdf


"From the Vault" - digging up past corrections and clarifications from the ABC archives.

Missing Voices: IPCC more like a weblog than an academic report

Ross McKitrick, professor of economics at the University of Guelph, has an interesting article in a Canadian newspaper that would interest ABC's audience. Titled "Fix the IPCC process" it outlines problems with the IPCC review process. We wonder if ABC's opinion site "The Drum" will be posting a copy?

Here's an extract:

"The IPCC “peer review” process is not like the one academic journals use, in which reviewers actually have the authority to recommend rejection and require changes; instead it is more like a limited, voluntary public comment process. Since the IPCC gives Lead Authors the sole right to determine content and accept or dismiss comments, it is more like a weblog than an academic report."

Read more: http://opinion.financialpost.com/2010/08/27/fix-the-ipcc-process/#ixzz0y1qEL7sN


Update: ABC cover the release of the IAC report, the subject of McKitrick's comments, HERE