Lawrence C. Hamilton|Mary D. Stampone
Blowin’ in the Wind: Short-Term Weather and Belief in Anthropogenic Climate Change
University of New Hampshire|University of New Hampshire
abstract series polls provides new tests weather influences public beliefs climate change statewide data 5000 randomsample telephone interviews conducted 99 days 25 yr 201012 merged temperature precipitation indicators derived us historical climatology network ushcn station records surveys carry question designed around scientific consensus statements climate change happening caused mainly human activities alternatively respondents state climate change happening happening mainly natural reasons belief humans changing climate predicted temperature anomalies interview day previous day controlling season survey individual characteristics temperature effects concentrate among one subgroup however individuals identify independent rather aligned political party interviewed unseasonably warm days independents tend agree scientific consensus regarding anthropogenic climate change unseasonably cool days tend agree although temperature effects sharpest 2day window positive effects seen longer windows well future climate change shifts distribution anomalies extremes first affect beliefs among unaligned voters