U.S. Belief in Global Warming Rises, Poll Shows

A new poll shows Americans' belief in global warming is on the rise, along with temperatures and surprising weather changes.

The survey by the University of Michigan and Muhlenberg College says 62 percent of those asked last December think the Earth is getting warmer. That's an increase from 55 percent in the spring of that year. It's the highest percentage in two years.

Nearly half the people who say they believe in global warming base that on their own personal observations of the weather.

Climate scientists say daily local weather isn't evidence of climate change. But they also say long-term climate change is so dramatic that people do recognize and experience it.

The survey of 887 people has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)