A University of British Columbia study of American attitudes toward climate change finds that local weather – temperature, in particular – is a major influence on public and media opinions on the reality of global warming.
The study, published today by the journal Climatic Change, finds a strong connection between U.S. weather trends and public and media attitudes towards climate science over the past 20 years – with skepticism about global warming increasing during cold snaps and concern about climate change growing during hot spells.
"Our findings help to explain some of the significant fluctuations and inconsistencies in U.S. public opinion on climate change," says UBC Geography Prof. Simon Donner who conducted the study with former student Jeremy McDaniels (now at Oxford University).
The researchers used 1990-2010 data from U.S. public opinion polls and media coverage by major U.S. newspapers, including The New York Times, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today. They evaluated the relationship between average national temperatures and opinion polls on climate change, along with the quantity and nature of media editorials and opinion pieces related to climate change.
While many factors affect climate change attitudes – political views, media coverage, personal experience and values – the researchers suggest that headline-making weather can strongly influence climate beliefs, especially for individuals without strong convictions for or against climate change.
"Our study demonstrates just how much local weather can influence people's opinions on global warming," says Donner. "We find that, unfortunately, a cold winter is enough to make some people, including many newspaper editors and opinion leaders, doubt the overwhelming scientific consensus on the issue."
Explore further:
Poll: US belief in warming rises with thermometer
runrig
antialias_physorg
As one of my personally favorite authors keeps repeating:
This is something most people will never understand.
And when it comes right down to it: the opinion of people who know nothing about anything isn't important. To those that do the work there is no doubt.
(It's like in sports: Fans don't dicatete how their favorite team is coached in the least. The fans don't matter)
Science isn't an opinion based issue.
runrig
I totally agree.
ray_hedley_98
VendicarE
"36 percent of all U.S. citizens believe President Barack Obama isn't American" - Ray
Every last one.
And Conservatives make up about half the U.S. population.
So where does the America's Cancer stem?
ray_hedley_98
I watch a lot of U.S. news VendicarE (Canadian politics can be so boring)and am constantly amazed at what I hear sometimes.
My cable company offered a free preview week of "Fox News" and I laughed almost as much as Jon Stewart, but they aren't trying to be funny, just poison minds
The Alchemist
It's hard carrying the burden of truth.
@Ray, u r so right.
VendicarE
"preview week of "Fox News" and I laughed almost as much as Jon Stewart" - Ray
Faux News is the principle way America's brain Cancer metastasizes.
There are actually real scientific studies that have been conducted and show that people who watch Faux news actually know less after watching the news than they did before.
Faux News is anti-news.
ray_hedley_98
You mean you're missing out on the "Kardashians" ? lol
Believe me, you ain't missing nuttin.
VendicarE
I know what a Kardashian is, but I am not impressed.
Why AmeriTards view such filth is beyond me. No wonder the content of Political speeches in the U.S. has dropped 4 grade levels since Lincoln.