The Climatic Research Unit e-mail hacking incident, referred to by some in the media as "Climategate",[1] began in November 2009 with the hacking of a server used by theClimatic Research Unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, England, in the United Kingdom. The unknown hacker copied[2] and anonymously disseminated over a thousand e-mails and other documents.[3][4][5]The university confirmed that the security breach took place, but could not confirm the authenticity of the material at short notice,[6] and expressed concern "that personal information about individuals may have been compromised."[7] Details of the incident have been reported to the police, who are investigating.[3] Later, Phil Jones, Director of theUEA-CRU, confirmed that all of the leaked emails that had provoked heated debate appeared to be genuine.[8]
Climate change skeptics have asserted that the e-mails show collusion[9] by climate scientists to withhold scientific information[10]. Other prominent climate scientists, such asRichard Somerville, have called the incident a smear campaign.[11] Among those who wrote the released e-mails and documents, Phil Jones, Director of the Climatic Research Unit, called charges that the emails involve any "untoward" activity "ludicrous", and [12] Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research stated that the sceptics have selectively quoted words and phrases out of context in an attempt to sabotage the Copenhagen global climate summit in December.[13]
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