Briffa on problems with tree-ometers

Alleged CRU Emails - Searchable

Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:57:09 +0000
From: Keith Briffa
Subject: Re: Mitrie: Bristlecones
...
...The main one is an ambiguity in the nature and consistency of their sensitivity to
temperature variations.
...The bottom line though is that these trees likely represent a mixed temperature and moisture-supply response that might
vary on longer timescales.
...
This is also related to the "strip bark" problem , as these types of trees will have unpredictable trends as a consequence of aging and depending on the precise nature of each tree's structure .
...
 At this point , it is fair to say that this adjustment was arbitrary and the link between Bristlecone pine growth and CO2 is ,
at the very least, arguable. Note that at least one author (Lisa Gaumlich) has stated that the recent growth of these trees could be temperature driven and not evidence of CO2 fertilisation.

The point of this message is to show that that this issue is complex , and I still believe the "Western US" series and its interpretation in terms of Hemispheric mean temperature is perhaps a "Pandora's box" that we might open at our peril!