9 in 10 scientists think climate change is real

One in four Americans believes climate change isn't happening, a 2013 Yale University study found.

Nearly 92 percent of surveyed scientists, however, believe the world is warming and humans are to blame, according to a Purdue University study released last week.

The study surveyed nearly 700 non-climate scientists across an array of disciplines at Big Ten universities. Previous studies have shown 97 percent of actively publishing climate scientists believe humans have an impact on warmer climates, according to NASA.

"We keep seeing non-climate scientists in the media as 'the other side,' saying climate change isn’t happening," said Linda Prokopy, a professor of natural resource social science and one of four authors of the study. "And we thought, 'Well, are there really a lot of scientist out there who don’t believe in climate change?'"

Not only did the overwhelming majority agree with climate scientists on global warming, but 94 percent said they "strongly agree" or "moderately agree" that climate science — a relatively new field compared to such disciplines as chemistry or biology — is credible.

Those surveyed practiced biological or physical sciences, such as astronomy, meteorology, geology, engineering or physics. The study excluded the social sciences, such as economics or sociology.

"(The) scientists were ones who we think would legitimately be able to read the climate science literature and understand it," Prokopy said.

By the numbers

700

Non-climate scientists at Big Ten universities were surveyed

92%

of scientists believe humans are to blame for global warming

94%

of scientists "strongly agree" or "moderately agree" that climate science is credible