[UPDATED, 5:05 p.m.: Pennsylvania State University is looking into the issues raised in the emails, as well (pdf file at preceding link). The University statement is below. A short story in The Times on the developments is here. Hat tip to Keith Johnson at Environmental Capital.]

As the University of East Anglia investigates the disclosure of thousands of e-mail messages and documents from its Climatic Research Unit, as well as the implications of the contents for its climate research, the head of the unit is stepping aside. Here is the news release:

Prof. Phil Jones has today announced that he will stand aside as director of the Climatic Research Unit until the completion of an independent review resulting from allegations following the hacking and publication of e-mails from the unit. Professor Jones said: “What is most important is that CRU continues its world leading research with as little interruption and diversion as possible. After a good deal of consideration I have decided that the best way to achieve this is by stepping aside from the director’s role during the course of the independent review and am grateful to the university for agreeing to this. The review process will have my full support.” Vice Chancellor Prof. Edward Acton said: “I have accepted Professor Jones’s offer to stand aside during this period. It is an important step to ensure that CRU can continue to operate normally and the independent review can conduct its work into the allegations. We will announce details of the independent review, including its terms of reference, timescale and the chair, within days. I am delighted that Prof. Peter Liss, F.R.S., C.B.E., will become acting director.”

For more than a week, the episode has fueled a fierce debate on the blogosphere and in newspaper columns and once again placed global warming science under intense scrutiny. Presuming that the inquiry is as independent, probing and transparent as advertised, some clarity may emerge on many fronts.

[UPDATE, 5:05 p.m.] Here’s a statement issued on Tuesday by Pennsylvania State University on the issues raised in the emails: