[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12514-12517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6446]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Data Collection: Meteorologists' and Public's Views and Comments 
on Weather and Climate Issues

    The National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency, is 
interested in obtaining the public's views and attitudes toward weather 
and climate issues.
    Specifically, we're seeking input and comments from all interested 
persons on their views of the value of weather reporting and climate 
research in their lives, and their familiarity with weather and 
climate-related issues that have an effect on them now or will in the 
future.
    In addition to the general public, we are especially interested in 
receiving comments from informed professionals and followers of science 
and engineering research and education.
    In an effort to obtain the public's input and useful information, 
the National Science Foundation has developed the questions that 
follow. Responses from the public will be used only in the aggregate, 
and only to help the NSF in its efforts to better explain itself and 
its activities to the American public.

[[Page 12515]]

    We hope you will provide us with your thoughts on the following 
questions. Detailed comments are also welcome and greatly appreciated.
    Responses and comments can be mailed to Public Attitudes About 
Weather and Climate, c/o Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 1245, Arlington, 
VA 22230. Comments can also be sent via email to [email protected], or faxed 
to (703) 306-0157.
    All comments should be received by Monday, April 20, 1998.

    Dated: March 4, 1998.
Julia Moore,
Director, Office of Legislative and Public Affairs.

Yankelovich Partners, Inc.

101 Merritt 7 Corporate Park, Norwalk CT 06851

Job #35351

March 1998.

Meteorologist Survey

Identification: Complete at End of Interview

Name-------------------------------------------------------------------

Title:-----------------------------------------------------------------

Company:---------------------------------------------------------------

Address:---------------------------------------------------------------

Telephone:-------------------------------------------------------------

City:------------------------------------------------------------------

State:-----------------------------------------------------------------

Zip Code:--------------------------------------------------------------

Interviewer:-----------------------------------------------------------

Date:------------------------------------------------------------------

Elapsed Time:----------------------------------------------------------

  Hello, I'm-----------------------------------------------------------
calling from Yankelovich Partners, a national public opinion 
research firm.

May I please speak to?-------------------------------------------------
    When Individual From List is on the Telephone: This is 
Yankelovich Partners, a national public research firm, and we are 
conducting a survey among American Meteorological Society members to 
ask their opinion about a number of issues related to climate and 
the field of meteorology. This is your opportunity to express your 
ideas and opinions. Please be assured that your answers are 
confidential and anonymous, and that we are interested in your 
opinion.
    The results of this survey will be summarized, and we will send 
all participants a copy of the final report. Our questions will take 
no more than 10 minutes of your time. May we ask you a few 
questions: [If interested but cannot interview now, please arrange 
callback.]

A. First, are you currently a member of the American Meteorological 
Society?
    a. Yes  continue
    b. No  Thank and Terminate
B. And, are you: (Read List. Enter One Response.)
    a. A meteorologist
    b. An oceanographer
    c. A hydrologist
  d. Other (please specify)--------------------------------------------
1.a. Do you feel that public interest in weather and climate have 
increased or decreased over the past few years? (Enter One Response)
    a. IncreasedGo To Q.1.b.
    b. DecreasedGo To Q.2.
    c. Don't know/Not sure
1.b. (If answered ``Increased'' to Q.1.a, ask:) To what do you 
attribute the increased interest? (Record response verbatim)
2. How strongly do you agree or disagree that advances in science 
and technology have substantially lessened the impact of natural 
weather disasters? (Read List. Enter One Response)
    a. Strongly agree
    b. Somewhat agree
    c. Somewhat disagree
    d. Strongly disagree
    e. Don't know/Not sure (Volunteered)
3.a. Are you aware of any advances in science and technology, or 
emerging technologies which are likely to improve predictions of the 
weather in your area?
    a. Yes
    b. No
    c. Don't know/Not sure
3.b. (If answered ``Yes'' to Q.3.a, ask:) Does a particular example 
come to mind? (Record response verbatim)
4. Weather and climate affect many things, yet there are many facts 
about weather and climate which are unknown to most people. I'm 
going to name several weather and climate phenomena. As I name each 
one, please tell me whether you feel that people will benefit very 
much, somewhat, not very much, or not at all from learning more 
about the phenomena. The first is: (Read List. Enter One Response 
for Each.) [Rotate]

                                                                                                                
                         [1=Very much; 2=Somewhat; 3=Not very much; 4=Not at all; 5=DK]                         
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      1            2            3            4            5     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. El Nino and the Southern Oscillation........            1            2            3            4            5
b. Global Warming..............................            1            2            3            4            5
c. North Atlantic Oscillation..................            1            2            3            4            5
d. Ozone Depletion.............................            1            2            3            4            5
e. North Atlantic Conveyer Belt................            1            2            3            4            5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. And, of the weather and climate phenomena mentioned above, which 
two do you feel people will most benefit from learning more about? 
Is it: (Read List. Enter One Response.) [Rotate]
    a. El Nino and the Southern Oscillation
    b. Global Warming
    c. North Atlantic Oscillation
    d. Ozone Depletion
    e. North Atlantic Conveyer Belt
6. I'm going to read you several statements about climate change. 
For each statement, please tell me whether you strongly agree, 
somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree. The first 
statement is: (Read Each Statement. Enter One Response for Each.)

                                                                                                                
              [1=Strongly agree; 2=Somewhat agree; 3=Somewhat disagree; 4=Strongly disagree; 5=DK]              
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      1            2            3            4            5     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. The greenhouse effect has existed throughout                                                                 
 most of the earth's history...................            1            2            3            4            5
b. The greenhouse effect is now being amplified                                                                 
 by increased concentrations of certain gases                                                                   
 in the atmosphere as a result of human                                                                         
 emissions.....................................            1            2            3            4            5

[[Page 12516]]

                                                                                                                
c. If humans collectively reduced their                                                                         
 emissions of greenhouse gases to a level of                                                                    
 10% below the world's emissions in 1990, the                                                                   
 earth's average surface temperature would                                                                      
 return to its 1990 level within 10 years and                                                                   
 not continue to increase thereafter...........            1            2            3            4            5
d. Carbon dioxide is the most important gas                                                                     
 related to greenhouse warming.................            1            2            3            4            5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    El Nino, has received a great deal of attention recently. I'd 
like to ask you a few questions about El Nino.

7. In your opinion, how critical a role have advances in science and 
technology played in predictions concerning the length and severity 
of the current El Nino? Has their role been: (Read List. Enter One 
Response.)
    a. Very critical
    b. Somewhat critical
    c. Not very critical
    d. Not at all critical
    e. Don't know/Not sure (Volunteered)
8. Based on what you know about the current El Nino, do you agree or 
disagree with recent predictions that the current El Nino will 
weaken and not have an impact on weather in the United States this 
summer? (Enter One Response.)
    a. Agree
    b. Disagree
    c. Don't know/Not sure
9. In your opinion, how likely is it that global warming contributes 
to more frequent and more severe El Nino events? Is it: (Read List. 
Enter One Response.)
    a. Very likely
    b. Somewhat likely
    c. Somewhat unlikely
    d. Very unlikely
    e. Don't know/Not sure (Volunteered)

    Global warming has received a great deal of attention. I'd like 
to ask you a few questions about global warming.

10. In your opinion, which of the following are affected by human 
activity? (Read List. Enter All Mentions.)
    a. Antarctic ozone hole
    b. Deforestation
    c. Atmospheric concentrations of CO2
    d. Increase in atmospheric concentrations of small particles 
called aerosols
    e. El Ninos
11. And, in your opinion, which of the following cause potential 
global warming? (Read List. Enter all Mentions.)
    a. Antarctic ozone hole
    b. Deforestation
    c. Atmospheric concentrations of CO2.
    d. Increase in atmospheric concentrations of small particles 
called aerosols
    e. El Ninos
12. In your opinion, how likely is it that the earth's average 
surface temperature will rise by 1 to 3.5 degrees Celsius over the 
next 100 years as a result of human activities? Is it: (Read List. 
Enter One Response.)
    a. Extremely likely
    b. Very likely
    c. Somewhat likely
    d. Not very likely
    e. Not at all likely
    f. Don't know/Not sure
13. Some scientists have suggested that global warming could trigger 
an abrupt cooling in two ways--by increasing rainfall on the 
northern oceans or by melting Greenland's ice. Either of these could 
put enough fresh water into the ocean to cause a ``flushing 
failure'' which would weaken the North Atlantic Conveyer Belt. 
Considering this scenario, how likely a contributor is global 
warming to a possible return to ice-age temperatures? Is it: (Read 
List. Enter One Response.)
    a. Very likely
    b. Somewhat likely
    c. Somewhat unlikely
    d. Very unlikely
    e. Don't know/Not sure (Volunteered)
14. Overall, given recent scientific realizations that the earth's 
climate undergoes dramatic temperature changes every few thousand 
years, how likely is it, in your opinion, that the earth could 
return to ice-age temperatures within the next 50 years? Is it: 
(Read List. Enter One Response.)
    a. Very likely
    b. Some what likely
    c. Somewhat unlikely
    d. Very unlikely
    e. Don't know/Not sure (Volunteered)

    Let's talk about a particular region of the world--the polar 
regions, that is, the Arctic and Antarctic.

15. Of the following aspects of polar research, which two of the 
following do you believe to be most valuable? (Read List. Enter One 
Response.)
    a. Examination of ice cores
    b. Documentation of deep ocean currents
    c. Measurements of ice caps
    d. Marine sedimentation records
    e. Tree ring analyses
16. In your opinion, how critical is polar research, including 
examination of ice cores, to understanding changes in climate, such 
as global warming and the possibility of a sudden cooling? Is it: 
(Read List. Enter One Response.)
    a. Very critical
    b. Some what critical
    c. Not very critical
    d. Not at all critical
    e. Don't know/Not sure (Volunteered)
17. To the best of your knowledge, how much of an impact do Arctic 
climate conditions have on climate in your area? Do they have a: 
(Read List. Enter One Response.)
    a. Very important impact
    b. Somewhat important impact
    c. Somewhat unimportant impact
    d. Very unimportant impact
    e. Don't know/Not sure (Volunteered)
18. To the best of your knowledge, how much of an impact do 
Antarctic climate conditions have on climate in your area? Do they 
have a: (Read List. Enter One Response.)
    a. Very important impact
    b. Somewhat important impact
    c. Somewhat unimportant impact
    d. Very unimportant impact
    e. Don't know/Not sure (Volunteered)

    Our last few questions are for demographic purposes.

19. What state do you live in?-----------------------------------------
How long have you been working in the atmospheric, oceanic or 
hydrologic sciences? (Enter One Response)
    a. Less than one year
    b. 1-2 years
    c. 3-5 years
    d. 6-10 years
    e. 10 years or more
    f. Refused
21. In which of the following settings do you currently work: (Read 
List Enter All Mentions)
    a. At a university or college
    b. For the government
    c. For the media, in the private sector
    d. In the private sector
  e. Other (please specify)--------------------------------------------
SEX (Record)
    a. Male
    b. Female

    Thank you very much for your cooperation. So that we may send 
you a copy of the survey report, we will need your name and address.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Meteorologist Survey

    The next few questions are about the weather.

1. Of the following, which are the two most important reasons you 
listen to the weather? (Read List. Enter One Response.)
    a. Temperature
    b. Driving conditions
    c. Storm/Bad weather alert
    d. Planning outdoor recreation or travel

[[Page 12517]]

    e. Proper weather attire
    f. To be entertained
  g. Other (please specify)--------------------------------------------
    h. Don't know/Not sure (Volunteered)
2. And, of the following people who report the weather, which one is 
your favorite weather person? (Read List. Enter One Response)
    a. Al Roker (NBC)
    b. Spencer Christian (ABC)
    c. Craig Allen (CBS)
    d. Valerie Voss (CNN)
    e. Jack Williams (USA Today)
  f. Other (please specify)--------------------------------------------
3. In your opinion, how likely is it that global warming contributes 
to more frequent and more severe El Nino events? Is it: (Read List. 
Enter One Response.)
    a. Very likely
    b. Somewhat likely
    c. Somewhat unlikely
    d. Very unlikely
    e. Don't know/Not sure (Volunteered)
4. In your opinion, which of the following are affected by human 
activity? (Read List. Enter All Mentions.)
    a. Antarctic ozone hole
    b. Deforestation
    c. Burning of fossil fuels
    d. Increase in atmospheric concentrations of small particles 
called aerosols
    e. El Ninos
5. And, in your opinion, which of the following cause potential 
global warming? (Read List. Enter All Mentions.)
    a. Antarctic ozone hole
    b. Deforestation
    c. Burning of fossil fuels
    d. Increase in atmospheric concentrations of small particles 
called aerosols
    e. El Ninos

[FR Doc. 98-6446 Filed 3-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M