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© 2014 Pacific Crest
217
Step
Explanation
2. Identify the purpose for
generating the original data
Identify the purposes of the organizations for generating and
collecting the original data
1 USA Today
Although USA Today didn’t generate the data, it wants to popularize Global
Warming thus will publish new findings and discussions that provide evidence of
Global Warming. (Link available online.)
2 ESRL
Scientific research around atmospheric composition since 1950s
3 CDIAC
Scientific research to measure historic atmospheric composition from air trapped in
arctic ice
3. Test if purposes align
Does your purpose for use of the data align with the purpose of
the organization that collected the data? Be careful to not bend
data to fit contexts where it does not apply!
1 USA Today
This was the article that triggered my question and interest. I’m checking their
conclusion for myself. Purposes align.
2 ESRL
They’ve been doing readings of CO
2
levels from Mauna Loa in Hawaii for 50
years. That gives me 50 years of data to see what it shows. Purposes align.
3 CDIAC
Their measurements span different periods (400,000 and 800,000 years) and I
will look at the longer period. They merely collected data; I will see what it shows
me. Purposes align.
4. Identify concerns
In viewing the presented data, what issues about this data might
make its integrity questionable?
1 USA Today
This is a popular newspaper that reports the results of others but they need to
be profitable. No links included for the sources they cite, but I can look them up,
especially the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to verify, if needed.
2 ESRL
Because they are measuring from only one location, can it be extrapolated or
applied globally? (After checking, it seems that Mauna Loa is ideal because it is so
far from local polluting effects such as car exhaust and even vegetation. And other
monitoring locations such as in Samoa show the same result trends.)
3 CDIAC
Are there enough data points (snapshots) of readings for the data to be reliable
historically? How sure they can be of the age of the samples? (After checking only
one study, I see that no fewer than 251 samples at different depths were sent to 2
different labs to be analyzed. That’s just 1 study from 32 at a single location. As for
sample ages, it seems that there are known historic marine events that also show
in the ice cores allowing scientists to date the data fairly accurately (± 5%.)
5. Determine value
When weighing the issues about the data, does the value of the
data exceed the issues about the data?
1 USA Today
Yes, since this is not my only source and the other data seems to align with the
original story.
2 ESRL
Since multiple locations show the same trend (called the Keeling curve), the data
value is assumed.
3 CDIAC
The data integrity and methodologies used more than satisfied my skepticism/
concern. Data value is assumed.
5.2 Using Data from Other Sources