Blowing hot and cold: U.S. belief in climate change shifts with weather [View all]

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http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2013/02/05/blowing-hot-and-cold-u-s-belief-in-climate-change-shifts-with-weather/

[font face=Serif]Media Release | Feb. 5, 2013

[font size=5]Blowing hot and cold: U.S. belief in climate change shifts with weather[/font]

[font size=3]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.

…

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.”[/font][/font]

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10584-012-0690-3

(See also: http://www.democraticunderground.com/112734239 )