Survey on Climate Change

This survey took place in the first week of GEOS 2004 in Fall 1999. It is a class of students from many backgrounds and class level (Freshman to Graduate).
 
 
How concerned are you about the possibility of global climate changes?

Not Concerned1/17slightly concerned7/17concerned 6/17very concerned 2/17

When people talk about climate change… what kind of change do you think they are talking about?

The global warming process and the natural changes that occur in our atmosphere changing weather and climate regions.

When most people think of global climate change, “global warming” comes to mind.Global warming = the idea that CO2 and water vapor in the atmosphere will cause a warming trend of 1.5 to 2 deg across a very extended period of time. Scientists are not quite sure when this will take place.

Changes dealing with weather, the ozone layer, and how the earth is changing from what humans are changing.

Weather changes.

Change in global weather to the more extreme, more severe.

About how the weather is changing, which is not good weather.

The ozone layer is getting thinner, which results in more UV rays.

The ozone layer getting thinner therefore the sun UV rays are getting stronger.

Changes in weather patterns, hotter in some areas or colder in some areas.

Excessive temperature in the summer 100+ degrees.

Global warming, changes in weather patterns.

Changes in the weather due to global warming and questions about weather the ozone will hold (??) up.

Extremes of temperatures highs or lows.

Getting extremely hot or extremely cold.

Hotter weather, drier climates, more skin cancer.

Global warming, ozone layer, ultraviolet rays.

Global warming- greenhouse effect.

Please list all the things that you can think of that could cause global climate change (tallied where applicable).

Car exhaust/PollutionIIIIIIIIIIII = 12

CFC’sIIIIIIIII= 9

Gasses (ozone,water vap)IIIII = 5

Ozone layer/deteriorationIIIII = 5

Greenhouse effectIII = 3

AtmosphereIIII =4

Temp. FluctuationsIII =3

CO2III

Deforestation (rainforest)III

Aerosol cansIII

Volcanic EruptionsII

Carbon MonoxideII

Suns effect on atmosphere II

Increasing human pop.II

El NinoI

Environmental AspectsI

Non-recycled trashI

Heating of PolesI

Oil field burningI

Sulfuric dioxideI

Depletion of greenhouse gasses I

Are you aware of any evidence of global climate change?

Yes5/17No11/17 Maybe1/17

If you answered yes above, please tell us the evidence and the source (where you learned it).

Heating of the earths oceans …weather book

Ozone hole….Readers digest WB

CFC’s emittedweather science book

Temperature fluctuationsReaders Digest WB

CFC’sRead articles on it

El Ninoand Volcanic EruptionsDid science fair project on them

Temperature change

Ozone hole

Book called natural disasters and some issue of National Geographic

Temperature changes … everyday observations

Over Antarctica… class (science)

List the top 5 sources (countries, groups, industries, people, etc.) you believe could contribute to global climate change.

US

Germany

China

Japan

Russia

_

Mostly countries that have big Industry and transportation vehicles cars etc. – destroying of forests on earth also.

_

Car industries

Factories that release chemicals into the air

US

Refrigerators or A/C ‘s releasing CFC’s

Those clearing the forests – such as loggers

_

U.S.

Industrialized Countries

_

U.S.

Oil industries

_

U.S.

Japan

China

Europe

_

U.S can use less industries

People – all people can stop driving – use bus

Japan- industries

_

US

White Middle aged Men (business)

Oil Industries

Papel Industries

An agency that deals with air quality (EPA)

_

USA

EPA

Oil industries

Middle class business men

Government

_

United States

Japan

China

_

U.S.

Japan

Brazil

China

England

_

Industries

Individual homes

Countries

Certain groups

_

U.S.

Oil industries

Paper industries

EPA

Government

_

USA

EPA

OU industries

Paper industry

Government

_

U.S.

_

Factories w/ big smoke stacks

Car industries

Who should bear the burden of preventing global climate change?

Everyone

_

the government

the company

the factories

_

those causing the exhaust

producers of ozone unsafe products

_

environmentalist

everyone

_

everyone

_

the society

everyone as a whole

_

the government

_

us, the people of the world

the use government

_

the people who contribute to global climate change

_

everyone

_

united nations

weather people

geosciences

_

everyone

business

_

everyone

_

everyone, especially industries

_

citizens

government

_

everyone who wants to live on earth

_

individual

communities

business

schools

government

Is there anything you think your government can do to prevent global climate change?

12/17Yes0/17No5/17Maybe

If you answered yes to the previous question, what are the most effective actions that your government could take?

Put laws and restrictions on things

Solar energy more effective

Tax higher for unnecessary pollutions

More funding in general

Banning aerosol cans from being sold

Carpooling systems

Recycle

Use solar energy more efficiently

Purification processes

Harsher penalties for disobeying laws

Impose immediate ban on use of CFC’s

Regulate deforestation

Tighter emission standards

Have students learn about it in school

Run programs to let people be aware of the problems

Reward those producing least amount of waste

Punish those producing most amount of waste

Persuade more people to carpool

Ozone alert days

Industry and gas filters

Auto gasoline

Are there other people or organizations in your country besides the government that can help prevent global climate change?

Everyone that lives here by getting informed and caring to protect the planet

Air quality control

Television stations – persuading the viewing public to carpool or take the bus

Radio stations

Newspapers

Businesses

School system

Earth Days

Newspapers/magazines

Businesses : carpooling

Public transportation

Car companies

Oil industries

Gas companies

People and citizens : control emissions from cars, lawnmowers, etc.

Tree planting organizations

Regulating industries

Special interest groups

Local governments

From which three of the following do you receive most of your information about the environment (Write a 1 by the most important, a 2 by the second most important and 3 by the least most important source).Please mark only 3.

Average of 1-3 rating listed below without zeros included. 

Community information meetings0

Conversations with friends3

Environmental groups0

Newspaper or magazines1.69

Radio or television1.6

Conversations with family members2.5

Technical or scientific publications0

School 2.14

Other0

Please rank the following people from those you most trust to give you correct information about climate change (1) to those you trust the least (8). Please mark them all.

(average posted below out of 14 properly completed responses) 

Teachers2.57

Scientists2.71

News media5.14

Government officials6.64

Environmental groups4.64

Friends4.42

Family members4.35

Other3.0= debates

In your mind, what are the chances that human actions hae already changed global climate?

(tallied)

0%0

1-20%4

21-40%2

41-60%3

61-80%1

81-99%3

100%3

In your mind, what are the chances that human actions will change global climate in the future?

0%1

1-20%4

21-40%1

41-60%1

61-80%4

81-99%4

100%3

How, if at all, do you think human actions have changed average temperatures in your country up to now?Check one box and, if you think there has been a change, write in a number.

(first number is tally of responses, then a list of the degree F change)

No change3

Increased by an average 13 ;1,2,2, a fraction,1-2,5,2,4,1,4,10,10,1,1.2,

Decrease by an average0

How much of a change in average temperatures do you think human actions will cause in the next 10 years in your country?

No change2

Increase by an average14;2,10,5,a fraction, 2-3. 10,1.2.1,1,1,10,10,.2.5,10,1

Decrease by an average 0

How much of a change in average temperatures do you think human actions will cause in the next 50 years in your country?

No change1

Increase by an average15;4, ½, 7, a fraction, 8-10,15,2,5,1,5,30,20,1,1/2,35

Decrease by an average0

If global climate does change, will it have a direct influence on your life?

Yes11

No6

If you answered yes to the question above, please list the ways your life will be influenced.

Government will begin to enact more laws

Climate change

Reduced activities outside in summer

Severe weather can take away homes

Severe weather can decrease food production

I may not be able to stay outside long

Not god for my skin

The weather could get really bad and I hate thunderstorms

Sun (skin?) cancer

Plants dying

Water resources depleting

Animals dying for unnecessary causes

Cost of certain items will increase (gasoline, oil etc.)

More weather phenomenon like El Nino

The food I eat

The water I drink

The way transportation thing

The rise of sea level results in homes costing more

Hotter summers

Less purities (water ,air)

Health problems

Climate change

Oceans rise

Vegetation dies

Storms and floods


For each of the following statements, fill in the response that best represents your understanding.Write down 1 for true, 2 for probably true etc.

1 True2 Probably True3 Probably False4 False0 Don't Know/Not sure

Climate means average weather2.65

Weather means average climate3.29

Climate often changes from year to year2.53

Weather often changes from year to year1.53

Climate means the same thing as weather3.73

The earth's climate has been the same for millions of years3.76

Using the same scale as above, complete the following sentences and rate them…

The temperature of the earth is affected by…

Gases that make up the atmosphere1.35

The sun1.07

The moon2.5

The amount of ozone in the atmosphere1.5

How much dust there is in the atmosphere1.71

Clouds1.53

Whether the earth's surface is light or dark1.67

Meteor impact2.4

The ocean1.56

Volcanic eruptions2.31

A major cause of global climate change is…

Burning fossil fuels1.31

Space travel3.00

Ozone or smog in cities1.37

The hole in the Antarctic ozone layer1.33

Deforestation1.46

Aerosol spray cans1.8

Acid rain1.6

Toxic wastes (like hazardous chemicals in dumps)1.53

Ocean dumping of waste2.13

Clearing tropical rainforests1.5

Use of nuclear power1.75

Global climate change…

Will increase the occurrence of skin cancer1.59

Will cause the ocean to flood2.53

Will lead to more and larger storms1.86

Will contribute to agricultural problems and starvation2.00

Will increase precipitation and humidity1.73

Will lead to ecological disasters1.73

Will lead to shorter, milder winters1.81

Will lead to a shortage of oxygen in the atmosphere2.13

Will contribute to war2.85

Will contribute to large immigration problems2.57

Will reduce photosynthesis in most plants2.00

Is the main cause of species extinction today2.76

Should people be taking precautionary measures to prevent global climate change caused by human actions?

14/17Yes0/17No3/17don'tknow

Since there is uncertainty about climate change, how certain would the experts need to be about global climate change before you would consider taking action?

0/170%1/171-20%3/1721-40%3/1741-60%3/17 61-80% 7/17 81-99%0/17 100%

Is there anything that you personally do in your life that could contribute to global climate change?

12/17Yes1/17No4/17don't know

If you answered yes to the previous question, what things were you thinking about?

Drive a car

Don't recycle often

Not conserving energy as I should

Running the A/C

Using aerosols

Burning wastes

Are you aware of any groups or organizations that are active on environmental issues on your area?

5/17Yes12/17No

If so, please list them below.

Air Quality Control

Recycling Groups

Media in general

EPA(2)

OUrEarth

Greenpeace

Sierra wildlife

Are you involved in any of these organizations

0/17Yes17/17No

Rank the following problems according to your concern about the risks they pose to you, from the riskiest activity (1) to the least risky (14).PLEASE MARK THEM ALL.

Total Points added (not averaged)

Global Warming95

Ozone depletion81

Deforestation111

Species loss155

Pollution80

Overpopulation128

Natural disasters: lightening, flood drought hurricane, tidal wave, tornado…106

Disease83

Nuclear energy130

Smoking121

Wild animals182

Medicines and vaccinations145

Recreational activities175

Scientists have given us this list of possible effects if global warming occurs.Rank them in order of their concern to youPLEASE MARK THEM ALL.

Total Points added (not averaged) (from 17 answers)

Sea-Level Rise63

Changes in weather patterns35

Increase in storms53

Migration of affected population76

Climate changes34

Species loss78

For each of the following statements, fill in the response that best represents your understanding.Write down 1 for strongly disagree, 2 for somewhat disagree, etc. in the space to the right. 

1 strongly disagree2 somewhat disagree 3 somewhat agree 4 strongly agree0 don't know/not sure

1.64Harm to the environment is justified if it brings an economic benefit

3.76It is important to preserve the environment for future generations

1.35There is nothing we can do to change environmental conditions

2.94Nature is fragile and we should be careful not to harm or disrupt it

1.94Technology will be able to make up for environmental harm

1.92People will be able to manage the risks to harms produced by industrialization

3.05Nature is divine, and should be treated respectfully

2.00People making individual choices about the environment will provide adequate environmental protection

2.41People should lead simpler lives with less reliance on technology and less harm to the environment

1.38Nature is wild and should be tamed to serve mankind

1.44It is all right to sacrifice other species in order to satisfy human needs

1.69We can trust the government to protect the environment

2.74We can trust the scientists and experts to make the right decisions to protect the environment

1.71We can trust businesses to make the right decisions to protect the environment

2.50Small communities better protect the environment than large cities

2.89Industrialized nations have exploited non-industrialized nations

1.85Non-industrialized nations are not harming the environment

1.54People affected by environmental harms should be allowed to emigrate to rich countries