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The graph below plots the correlation between raw USHCN maximum temperatures and Briffa’s trees from 1960-1994. Those are the trees which Mann threw out when he did his nature trick. The correlation is pretty decent (rsq=0.103) considering that the USHCN data only covers the US. The USHCN anomalies are calculated vs. the average raw maximum temperature from 1895-2011.

The next graph shows the weaker correlation (rsq=0.066) between GISS US adjusted temperatures and Briffa’s trees from 1960-1994.

Here are the adjustments which Hansen has made to the US data vs. what he published in 1999. (Note how they look just like a hockey stick.)

This shows us two things.

The GISS adjustments are garbage There was nothing resembling a valid reason for Mann to throw out Briffa’s trees. Mann used Hansen’s garbage adjustments as the justification and the basis of the hockey stick.

This is an amazing story. Hansen made incorrect adjustments to the data. Mann looked at the incorrect adjustments and decided to throw out the tree ring data – because they didn’t match the incorrect adjustments. Then Mann replaced the correct tree ring data with the incorrectly adjusted data – based on the belief that a rise from 318 to 319 PPM CO2 had somehow corrupted the trees’ ability to function properly.