Another technique in the deception by Humphrey is the placement of the figure in question (Figure 1. Magnetic field intensity at the earth's surface, from creation to now).
In the paragraphs preceding the figure, Humphreys talks about archaeomagnetism and gives the reference to Merrill and McElhinney (twice). Russell refers to wild fluctuations, including a final one peaking at the time of christ (holy magnetic co-incidence, Batman). Obviously Merrill and McElhinney had their figure around the wrong way because their corresponding peak was around 2,000 BCE, but nothing significant happened then. So, at this stage the talk has been about fluctuations (as Merrill and McElhinney's paper was also).
Immediately below his figure 1, Humphreys has a secion headed "The Field Has Reversed Direction Many Times". He then introduces paleomagnetism and states correctly (if the timescale is ignored) that "while geologic strata were being laid down, the earth's magnetic field reversed its direction hundreds of times."
Between the two sections is his figure 1 which labels fluctuations which are discussed before it and reversals which are discussed after. Therefore the unwary and trusting reader is given the impression (through reversing the figure, removing the time scale and repositioning the horizontal axis) that the scientific evidence is summarised in the figure and supports Humphreys' statements.
The effect is to give a smooth, uninterrupted flow from magnetic fluctuations (which the general reader is unlikely to be aware of) to magnetic reversals (which the general reader may well know a little about) to Humphreys' theory for reversals and fluctuations, nicely reinforced by being summarised in figure 1.
A picture may be worth a thousand words, and a figure speaks for itself.
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