The chart in question (not my photoshopped charts (for visitors who don’t get satire)) is based on the HADCRUT 3 data, blue dots representing yearly averages of the data, the red line representing five-year averages.

The Zero baseline for temperature anomalies is an interesting one, as they use the average temperature from 1960 to 1990 rather than the average temperature for the whole chart. I’m not sure why they use that timeframe. It looks like using the whole chart’s average temp would set the zero lower, but then we’d have the problem of the zero climbing over the decades, putting 1980 below the average, and eventually 1990 if current climate models prove accurate over the next 100 years.

They have more up to date versions of the chart here, and an explanation for why January 2008 improperly temporarily skewed the graph here.

So I’m a bit confused by that graph. What is the temperature side represent? Temperature change off a given base temperature? What’s that base temp? That seems an odd way to plot the graph considering earth’s temp has never stayed the same over the course of its history. Or am I wrong about that?

I think this is quite brilliant. I shall be referring to this post in all future arguments with AGW proponents. I used to be one but on the strength of this I have been converted to the truthiness!

I think this is quite brilliant. I shall be referring to this post in all future arguments with AGW proponents. I used to be one but on the strength of this I have been converted to the truthiness!