Government scientists at the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration did not manipulate climate data in their work on global warming, according to a report by the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce.
The report did find that government scientists depicted global warming critics, including a U.S. senator, as stranded cast members of Gilligan’s Island, The Washington Post reported.
The IG investigation stems from the theft and release of e-mails from the Climate Research Unit at England’s University of East Anglia in 2009. Critics of global warming alleged the material showed misconduct by scientists and that they manipulated data to make their case. The incident has been dubbed Climategate.
Nonetheless, the report concluded that researchers at the NOAA did not manipulate data and followed agency date review policies. The investigation is at least the fifth to exonerate researchers in Britain and the United States and was requested by Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. The IG review examined more than a thousand e-mails, the Post said.
The report did find that Inhofe was ridiculed in a message that included a photo of the senator and five others that depicted them as characters from the TV show Gilligan’s Island, marooned on a melting ice cape at the North Pole. The report added that, "NOAA management recently took action to address the scientists' conduct." NOAA did not reveal what action was taken, the Post said.
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.