Abstract
Will Arctic warming affect mid-latitude weather? Many researchers think so, and have addressed this question through scientific articles and news media. Much of the public accepts such a connection as well. Across three New Hampshire surveys with more than 1500 interviews, 60% of respondents say they think future Arctic warming would have major effects on their weather. Arctic/weather responses changed little after Superstorm Sandy brushed the region, but exhibit consistently strong partisan divisions that grow wider with education. Belief in an Arctic/weather connection also varies, in a nonlinear pattern, with the temperature anomaly around day of interview. Interviewed on unseasonably warm or cool days, respondents are more likely to think that Arctic warming would have major effects on their weather. This unscientific response seems to mirror the scientific discussion about extremes.
Department
Sociology
Publication Date
7-26-2013
Journal Title
International Journal of Climatology
Publisher
Wiley
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Hamilton, L.C. & M. Lemcke-Stampone. 2014. “Arctic warming and your weather: Public beliefin the connection.” International Journal of Climatology 34:1723–1728. doi: 10.1002/joc.3796
Rights
© 2013 Royal Meteorological Society
Comments
This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Hamilton, L.C. & M. Lemcke-Stampone. 2014. “Arctic warming and your weather: Public beliefin the connection.” International Journal of Climatology 34:1723–1728, which has been published in final form at https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/joc.3796. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.