Download A cross-cultural study of global warming representation and risks

DELLIS Coline
Lycée Joliot-Curie 02500 HIRSON
A cross-cultural study of
global warming
representation and risks about
natural disasters
October 20
1 Summary
Thanks………………………………………………………………………….p.3
Introduction…………………………………………………………………….p.4
I- Different kinds of disasters……………………………………………………p.5
II- Questions about climate………………………………………………………p.17
III- Generalities…………………………………………………………………..p.22
IV- A comparative study…………………………………………………………p.23
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………...p.26
References…………………………………………………………………………p.27
Appendix (questionnaire)………………………………………………………….p.28
2 Thanks
First, I would like to thank Mr. DAUBISSE Alexandre and Mr. ABRAHAM Stany, who
were my teachers and proposed me to undertake this project. I also wanted to thank Miss
SCHARR Alexandra who helped me with my application form.
Of course, I also thank my family, who let me go in Oklahoma, so far from my Thiérache;
and who supported and helped me.
Then I would like to thank Mr. SIMMONDS Philip who organized this study visit.
After, I wanted to thank Mrs BOUICHOU Agnès, who accompanied us in Oklahoma, and
the HARDING-DEARMOND family, who hosted and took very good care of me.
I also wanted to thank Mr. MAHLER Matt, who received me and patiently answered my
questions; and all the persons who filled my questionnaire.
At last, to her energy, and all she organized for us, I really want to thank Mrs.
ROBILLARD Elise, without whom the stay could not have been as pleasant and busy.
3 Introduction:
I undertook this project because I think about my future, and I am interested in what nature
can do. I hoped to understand and discover how natural disasters, possibly intensified by
climate change, affect Oklahoma, as compared to France.
Also, it was very interesting for me to study meteorology in another country because the
climate is changing all over the world and this is starting to affect the weather.
Oklahoma, with its plains and mountains, has not only many climates, but also different
important climatic disasters, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, hailstorms, droughts, etc.
However in France, we have only floods and some windstorms. Besides, people of those
two countries possess many differences because of their culture. For instance, some think that
global warming takes a role in natural disasters, and some think it is normal and a part of a
natural cycle. I liked to learn more about it.
Postcard sold into the Historical Center in Oklahoma
4 I- Different kind of disasters…
a) In Oklahoma
“Oklahomans have proven they can handle most anything Mother Nature can dish out: tornadoes, wildfires, ice storms, flooding. Been there, done that. Residents of one town can now add earthquakes to the list.” Quote from NewOn6.com
“If you don’t like the weather in Oklahoma, wait a minute!” Will Rogers
Roger’s quote is in many ways true. Oklahoma’s weather can change quickly, and for this
reason, Oklahoma has become the focal point regarding weather forecasting.
-Hurricanes
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone. It is also called typhoon, tropical storm, or simply
cyclone. A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and
numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones out at
sea cause large waves, heavy rain, and high winds.
Sixteen hurricanes “hit” Oklahoma, but they were not deadly because Oklahoma is too far
from the sea and the cost, so Oklahoma only suffered heavy rains and big floods.
-Hail storms
Hail storms are just large hails which fall from the sky, for a period which can vary from
minutes to hours.
Hailstones range in size from pea to small melon.
When I was in Oklahoma, I saw a hail storm. It was on October 23rd just before the
football game between Oklahoma University and Texas Tech began: the game was delayed an
hour.
-Droughts
Droughts are caused by a depletion of precipitation over time. It can cause fires so
droughts can be very dangerous for the population and for the fauna and the flora.
5 During our trip, we were in a drought: it had no rain for a week, and during two weeks we
had only a hail storm and it rained once.
Here, there are Turner Falls in Davis, almost dry
when we saw them in October,
while there are usually big waterfalls with a lot of
water.
-A special storm: the Dust Bowl
Dust bowl is a dust storm, due to the drought.
From 1930 to 1936, every state but Maine and Vermont suffered from an intense drought.
The drought caused small dust storms to blow across the Oklahoma plains. Years of little rain
and unwise farming practices led to the dust storms that would plague portions of the state for
the remainder of the decade. Dust and sand blew so thickly that hens would roost at noon,
lights had to be lit throughout the day, and people could lose their way in the darkness.
At the drought continued, the heat became almost unbearable as the state set records for the
longest period without rain. Oklahoma went over 80 days with 100°F, including a high of
116. By 1934, all seventy-seven counties were proclaimed emergency areas because of the
drought conditions.
The earlier sand blows were nothing compared to the black blizzard that struck the
Panhandle on April 14, 1935, which was referred to as “Black Sunday”. Dust storms closed
schools and roads, dried up ponds, and because of “dust pneumonia” that caused lung
disorders, hundreds of humans and animals died.
Although the dust bowl was confined to three counties in the Panhandle, it affected the
6 entire state. The Dust Bowl devastated more counties in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and
Kansas than in Oklahoma. Popular perception incorrectly tied the Dust Bowl only to
Oklahoma.
“Dust blows in Guymon, Oklahoma, on
March 15, 1936”
“Dust storm in Hooker, Oklahoma
Panhandle, 1937”
Those pictures were taken in the Historical Center in Oklahoma
-Wild fires
When there are drought conditions, it makes easier for wild fires to start end to move. So
fires destroy forest and also houses, so it is really dangerous for flora, fauna and mostly
people.
7 Here, there are on the left no vegetation anymore and trees destroyed by the fire. On the
right, there are green grass, vegetation and trees.
-Earthquakes
In Oklahoma, earthquakes are extraordinary.
However, the state was hit by its largest earthquake on record, a 5.6-magnitude temblor
that struck 71km east of Oklahoma City, only a week after we came back in France
(November, 5th).
Fortunately, no one was hurt, although 14 homes were damaged, and the state was shaken
by a number of moderate aftershocks.
Scientists say there’s some evidence that “fracking” may induce minor tremors. “Fracking”
means produce small fractures in the earth miles beneath the surface with explosives in order
to tap trapped oil and gas deposits. It is a common practice in Oklahoma.
When we went to Barbara Thompson’s reception, (Monday, 17th October), I talked with a
lady. She told me that she knew earthquakes because on May 2010, a little one rattled her
house and cracked her bay window.
When we ate in a restaurant in Meers, we saw a seismograph. It is a device that records
seismic waves generated by earthquakes.
“The Meers Observatory was established in 1985 to monitor seismic activity along the
recently discovered Meers Fault and activity in the Southwest quadrant of Oklahoma. The
Meers Fault is the only young, surface-breaking fault east of the Rocky Mountains. The fault
spans 26 kilometers in a northwest to southeast direction and is 26-30 meters wide. The fault
is exposed at the surface, extending from Saddle Mountain to Richard Spur, and is visible
from the Meers-Porter Hill Road on the west and south-facing hillslopes of the ridgeline
immediately west of the Stony Point School. The Meers Store is located 3.2 kilometers south
of the sault.
Research Geologists have estimated that the most recent movement of the Meers Fault to
have occurred between 500-2,000 years ago. Additionally, researchers have estimated that
the maximum magnitude of an earthquake along the Meers Fault, historically or in the future,
could range between 6.5-7.5 on the Richter Scale.
The seismograph seismometer is positioned on granite bedrock in a mineshaft found
several thousand feet from the Meers Store. This seismograph unit is considered one of the
most seismically sensitive in the country, recording many earthquakes across the world and
underground nuclear weapon tests (some of which were in violation of treaties). The
seismogram that you see here is changed daily and seismograph clock is recalibrated with
Universal Time periodically. The seismograph unit is operational year round except for
periods following a lightning strike.”
8 .
Seismograph in the Meers restaurant
- Snow storm The probability of heavy snow in Oklahoma increases gradually through fall and early
winter to a peak in January, then remains high through March before dropping sharply in
April.
The panhandle and northwest counties are the most likely areas to receive heavy snow,
averaging 1 to 2 4-inch or greater snow events per year, and one 8-inch event every 1 to 2
years.
Counties along the Red River in southern Oklahoma are least likely to experience heavy
snowfall, but still can expect one 4-inch or greater snowfall on average every 3 to 4 years.
Snowfalls of 8 inches or more occur on average in these areas only about once every two
decades.
-Floods
Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters. Floods can be slow
or fast rising and generally develop over a period of days.
Flash floods usually result from intense storms dropping large amounts of rain within a
brief period. Flash floods occur with little or no warning and can reach full peak in only a few
minutes.
9 Flooding at Turner Falls 11/08/11
-Tornadoes
Tornados can occur anywhere in the world, but the majority of tornados occur in the
United States; Tornados also can occur during any month of the year, but are most common in
the spring when conditions for the formation of severe storms and tornados are the most
common. Oklahoma sits in the region of the country known as “Tornado alley”. This area
includes portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, where the frequency of tornados is higher
than anywhere else in the world.
Pictures of maps I took in a book about Oklahoma
10 Oklahoma lies at the heart of the most tornado-prone region in the world. On average, 60
tornadoes are observed in the state each year. Annual totals are quite variable, ranging from as
few as 17 (in 1988) to as many as 145 (in 1999). Nearly three-quarters of Oklahoma’s
tornadoes occur during the April-June “storm season”, with the single month of May
accounting for one-third of the annual total. Most tornadoes are weak and do little damage.
Others strike in unpopulated areas and are not much noticed.
Tornadoes are spawned by severe thunderstorms that can develop during any season or any
time of day, although conditions favorable for their development are present most frequently
in springtime, during late afternoon through early evening. Severe thunderstorms and the
tornadoes they produce usually move from southwest to northeast. Tornadoes sometimes form
singly but at other times will be part of a larger ensemble. Tornado development is often
associated with isolated, large “supercell” thunderstorms, but complexes of thunderstorms can
also produce significant tornadoes.
An extremely violent tornado ripped across the southern end of the Oklahoma City
metropolitan area on May 3, 1999. Despite the population density of the affected area, timely
warnings combined with effective citizen response held fatalities
O an amazingly low, though still tragic, 40. Tornado forecasting, detection and warning
systems (many of them developed in Oklahoma, and all of them developed after 1947)
provided a margin of safety that, while not completely preventing tragedy, was able to reduce
it significantly.
In 1999, a huge tornado hit Westmoore High School, which was our hosting school.
Hundreds of cars, crumpled like a child’s discarded toy, littered the parking lot across from
the school. About 500 people were at the school attending an awards ceremony. Everyone
survived.
Here, there is an aerial
picture taken after the
passing of the tornado
in 1999. At the
fingertip, it is
Westmoore High
School.
11 Those pictures were taken at Westmoore High School after the tornado in 1999 by a teacher
12 Tornado formation
A tornado begins in a severe thunderstorm called a supercell. A supercell can last longer
than a regular thunderstorm. The same property that keeps the storm going also produces most
tornadoes. The wind coming into the storm starts to swirl and forms a funnel. The air in the
funnel spins faster and faster and creates a very low pressure area which sucks more air (and
possibly objects) into it. The severe thunderstorms which produce tornadoes form where cold
dry polar air meets warm moist tropical air.
13 A very important part in the Oklahoma’s culture
Tornadoes are present in people's minds, even if they do not fear them because they are
accustomed. Indeed, in each building, there is an alarm and sometimes a special room for
when a tornado is coming.
For example, in a government building of Oklahoma: once, a tornado was coming. The
alarm sounded, and then all the employees had to take refuge in a special room. However, an
Indian woman refused to go to this room, because her tribe venerated the wind, and it would
be abnormal for her to fear a tornado. So she remained at her place.
Here, a painting on the wall in a
corridor into one of the
government building
Here, a painting by Wilson Hurley
into the Capitol
b) In France
-Avalanche
An avalanche is any amount of snow sliding down a mountainside.
Every winter, there are avalanches, less or more significant, and sometimes deadly. Indeed,
some of the avalanches are triggered by skiers who do off-piste, in the Alps or in the
Pyrenees.
14 -Heat waves
A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather (which may be accompanied
by high humidity).
France does not commonly have very hot summers, particularly in the northern areas.
Because of the usually relatively mild summers, most people did not know how to react to
very high temperatures (for instance, with respect to rehydration), and most single-family
homes and residential facilities built in the last 50 years were not equipped with air
conditioning. Furthermore, while there were contingency plans for a variety of natural and
man-made catastrophes, high temperatures had never been considered a major hazard.
So heat waves like in 2003 are very deadly, mostly for old people because they are alone
and unaware about the risks.
-Wildfires
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside
or a wilderness area.
Heat waves, droughts, cyclical climate changes and regional weather patterns such as
high-pressure ridges can increase the risk and alter the behavior of wildfires dramatically.
In South of France (Marseille, Corsica etc.), there are wildfires during the summer, and
some of them are really dangerous because they destroyed kilometers of vegetation,
threatening homes and forcing some areas to be evacuated.
-Earthquakes
The seismic activity in France Metropolitan is not as important as in other world areas.
However, there are regularly some more or less little earthquakes near the Mediterranean
Sea or in Alsace. Those earthquakes are not deadly, they only shake houses.
-Storms
A storm is characterized by fast winds and heavy rainfall. It may be accompanied by
thunderstorms and hail.
The storms are fairly common in France (2 per year).
Xynthia storm is a major depression which hit several European countries between
February 26 and March 1, 2010, causing a violent windstorm. The system, from the
subtropical regions hit France (Aquitaine, Poitou-Charentes, Pays de la Loire, Brittany and
Normandy).
Its passage has killed 59 people and extensive damage to property. This storm caused nearly
two billion euros in damages. The combination of winds and high tides resulted in a storm
surge that caused extensive flooding in some coastal areas, mainly in the Charente-Maritime,
Vendée and in the Cotes d'Armor.
15 The storm "Joachim" is a depression formed 15 December 2011 and December 18, 2011
dissipated.
Wind gusts up to 155km / h were recorded.
This storm resulted in a disruption of the rail network SNCF in some areas.
Falling trees and blocked several railway lines side, as well as roads where traffic was
stopped.
This storm was less devastating than the storm Xynthia.
-Floods
When it rains too much, sometimes there are floods of varying severity.
For the most serious, water goes onto roads and into houses, destroying houses and
everything else on their path.
It is what it happened in January 2011, in Picardie. More precisely, Hirson and the whole
region had major flooding on the 6th January 2011. Indeed, it snowed a lot, and a week after
the temperature was as warm as spring. The river rose more than 4 meters, and water quickly
overflowed onto the roads and entered in more than 350 houses and shops. During the night,
residents were evacuated. Most of the streets and city roads were impassable
Then, the boarding of my high school was requisitioned to house the victims for the
weekend.
Pictures of the flood in Hirson (January 2011)
Also, because of big thunderstorms and rains, the South of France was touched by huge
floods (e.g. Marseille) in November 2011. The rivers (Rhône) and even the Mediterranean
Sea overflowed towns. The human toll from the weather, which affected the south for nearly a
week, is five dead.
More than 1,000 homes were evacuated, nearly 11,500 homes were without power and
1,500 people were trapped in trains.
Floods are the disasters related to water the most common in the Mediterranean.
Even if some disasters are the same in France and in Oklahoma, all of them are stronger
in Oklahoma.
16 II- Questions about climate
a) American point of view
I interviewed Matt Mahler. He is a TV meteorologist and works in the News 9 weather
team.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology with a minor in mathematics
from the University of Oklahoma. Before working in News 9 weather team, he moved to
Wichita Falls, Texas in November of 2006, and worked as the weekday morning
meteorologist at NBC (National Broadcasting Company) affiliate KFDX (the NBC affiliated
television station) for three years.
Matt Mahler and I
17 I interviewed him and I asked him some questions.
“Would you say that climate changes are myth or fact? “ “Climate always changed, then I prefer the term climate change because that’s what
climate is: it’s changing. So, for me, when I see the term climate change, I look at the facts, I
mean, I don’t take it of conjuncture. I make sure that I know the actual data, make sure the
data I’m looking at is solid.
The data we’re looking have recently showing that. Well, during past 100 years, it showed
ups and downs. I mean, we’ve had floods, we’ve had bad springs, we’ve had droughts, we’ve
had bad winters. Climate changes, specifically over the Pacific Ocean, where el Niño affects
our weather. Data shows currents go through cycles.
So I believe that Climate change is true, but I also believe it’s something that we are going
to continue to go through: we’ll see times a lot hotter that it should be and times a lot colder
than it should be. Climate changes: it’s happening, but I don’t think it is out of control, It is
just something we’re going to see: changes.”
“For you, what are the Main reasons of global warming? “ “Oh, well, obviously, population increasing on the Earth: more people using things that
obviously are going to cause changes.
It’s not as extreme as a lot of people might lead you to believe. I’m not saying it’s not true,
I say it’s not to the point where we need to start panicking and worrying. I’m all for saving
environment, and doing your part. But I don’t think that global warming is something that is
going out of control, I don’t believe that’s true at all.
Temperatures will warm, temperatures will cool, climate is changing, has changed that’s
normal.
I’ve the opinion that our climate is going to change so much, and over the past
Over many hundred of years the temp may just going up a little bit then we see times where
for several years where the temp stay down.
Man made thing, it’s something we’re doing that we to pull back on the stuffs we’re doing
such as CO2
Global warming argument to me, I don't get involved with it, because it’s not something
that I believe to be 100% true. So, you can ask, you will get 100 different opinions if you ask
100 people on this. That’s the only thing about it.
And me, and Mike and Garry, Jane, and Nick, we all have kind of the same viewpoint. We
just believe that global warming is not, again, it’s not as panicky, it’s not as extreme as a lot
of people might lead you guys to believe. Whether or not it’ true, I mean, that’s what the data
are telling you. Because if you look at the data over years -- we’ve been taking records over
many years-- you can find out global warming.
But for me, any cause would just be…
On the thought that come on the Top of my head, I’d pick the fact that global population
continues to increase. We use more stuffs, that obviously affect the entire world, but in terms
of something doing the global temperatures spiking as badly as… I think it’s not a real issue.
18 In a lot of ways, our weather depends on, is impacted by, like I said, el Niño, which is
warming the pacific waters. So, el Niño is just the cooling of pacific waters. Waters are
cooler than they’ve been by the past 20 or 30 years. When it’s cooler than normal, we have
wetter winters, we have cooler winter (or sometimes colder winters), there are usually more
droughts – we have constant precipitations, so. Spring can be affected the same way. We can
have more thunderstorms, but not as intense. Thunderstorms that come through can become
huge and really really big.
Believe it or not, but the sea surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean affects storm
systems that come in. How it starts in the Pacific Ocean makes a big difference.”
“Why natural disasters are stronger in USA than in France? I mean, in USA you have tornadoes, hailstorms, droughts, hurricanes whereas in France, we have only big floods and snowstorm? “ “I’m trying to figure out what position on the earth as France, in terms of latitude and
longitude; I think you guys are further north than US.
USA are between Mexico, that provides dry warm air, and Canada, that provides cold air.
The clash of these huge hot or cold air masses creates storms and thunderstorms. The middle
of USA, what is called Tornado alley, is a perfect place for thunderstorms. So we can explain
the fact that we have intense storms and tornadoes by the very specific location of USA. So
Oklahoma, but not only: Texas, Kansas, etc., is the perfect spot for huge meteorological
events.
As you are further north, you don’t have a place like Gulf of Mexico that gives you a
constant stream of moisture and warmer air. Air systems for you are oceanic and come from
north England. Those cold air systems cause big snowstorms in England. But in Europe, your
air systems, cold and warm are less clashing, at least in France. I think that’s why your
meteorological phenomena are less intense.”
“When a tornado is incoming, what does the population have to do to be safety?” “Tornado questions are my favorite!
Every spring, people know that tornadoes can occur at any moment. For example, last
May 24th, we had what we call a « Massive Super-cell ». 3 to 5 days before, we can predict a
tornado is coming, and send a « watch-out » message to the population. We inform them as
precisely as possible. We do not want to make people crazy about that
In case of “tornado warnings”, people know what to do. For instance, each year in class,
students are reminded with what to do/not do in case of tornado.
People generally have a storm shelter in their house, with no windows. In case of alert,
they just need to make sure that their shelter is ok.”
19 I visited the News 9 weather station.
This is the News 9 weather station. At the top of the red
and white kind of tower, there is a camera. With this
camera, the meteorologist can see Oklahoma City and
around, so if a tornado, a fire or something of the sort
would be coming, the meteorologist would be notified
really quickly and then they could warn the public and
take the necessary security measures
Into the station, they have many computers. Each
computer is dedicated to a defined task and each
computer is double: one to watch at every time their
channel, one to see Oklahoma City, one to observe the
wind variations, the temperatures etc.
On the TV studio, where emissions are turned, they
have also many computers, but in order to control the
lights, the orientation of the cameras etc.
He showed me how he presents the weather in front of a
green screen.
20 b) French point of view Serge
Planton, head of the Climatic Research Unit at the Research
Centre of Meteo-France
He answered to some questions that people usually asks to him. I summarized and translated
his answers.
Are human beings responsible of global warming? He thinks most of the climate changes are attributable to human activity.
He said they noticed there is an increase in greenhouse gas emissions and temperature rise:
since 15 years, and thanks to sophisticated machinery, scientists have made the connection. What are the other factors of climate change? For him, there are two factors of natural origin: solar activity (that means the distance
between the Earth and the Sun) and volcanism but human activities dominate and are more
important.
Which climate changes can we expect? The temperature will rise. It is thought that warming will be higher in the twenty first
century (between 1.1 and 6.4 ° C) than it was in the twentieth century (0.6 ° C).
What will be the consequences of those changes? Sea levels will rise (from 20 to 60 cm). In addition, there will be the partial melting of
polar ice caps and the melting of the ice.
The oceans and also terrestrial ecosystems (forests) will be less effective to fix some of the
carbon emitted by human activities, which will amplify the effect of global warming.
In addition, the melting of permafrost will cause an increase of methane emissions, and
thus an increase of global warming.
What climate in France? He said the simulations provide a very clear increase in the number of summer heat waves
in France. The days of extreme heat (maximum temperature above 35 ° C) should become
much more frequent at the end of this century.
21 III- Generalities
- Some natural factors are likely to vary the temperature at the surface of the Earth:
- The internal climate variability. It is particularly due to the interactions of the various
components of the climate system (atmosphere, oceans, ice, vegetation ...).
- Solar radiation arriving on the Earth. It depends on the Earth's orbit, on changes in the
inclination of the polar axis and on the solar activity.
- The volcanic activity. Certain gases emitted into the atmosphere by volcanic eruptions
become particles that absorb a part of the solar radiation.
But these variations are not sufficient to explain the observed warming.
Indeed, the comparison between observations and climate simulations can assign most of
the global warming of the last 50 years to greenhouse gas emissions of human origin.
- Additional Greenhouse gas emissions of human origin?
The study of the chemical composition of the atmosphere shows that the content of certain
greenhouse gas emissions increased rapidly since the mid-nineteenth century. For example,
the concentration of carbon dioxide increased from 280 ppmv (parts per million volume) at
the beginning of the industrial era to about 380 ppmv in 2005.
Industrialization has led our society to massive discharges of these gases.
The production of carbon dioxide exceeds the absorptive capacity of nature. Distributed
over the entire planet, it enhances the natural greenhouse effect and contributes to gradually
warm the Earth's climate.
-To an increase of extreme events?
Scientists predict a small increase in heavy rainfall in mid and high latitudes of the
Northern Hemisphere in the winter, an increase in heat waves and fewer cold snaps.
But for other extreme events such as cyclones, no trend emerged in great details.
Statistical studies conducted over the last fifty years don’t show a clear trend to increase
for tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic, and for storms in France.
The latest projections seem to show, not an increase in the number of hurricanes, but an
increased activity of the most violent hurricanes in the North Atlantic.
The state of research does not allow the state of an increase in the intensity and the overall
number of storms, thunderstorms or hail in France.
22 IV- A comparative study
Cross-cultural study of global warming representation
We investigated the representation of American people and French people about global
warming. Given the fact that both countries are regularly victims of natural disasters floods in
the Aisne and storms in Oklaoma, we thought it could be interesting to compare perception of
climate changes for these two populations. For that, we constructed a questionnaire both in
English and in French. The questionnaire was divided in 3 sections and included a total of 24
items. In most of the cases, answers were collected on 7-points scales. The complete
questionnaire is provided in appendix p.27.
The first of the three sections evaluated the global representation of global warming, its
causes and its evolution. It included questions such as “Do you think that global climate
changes are myth or facts” or “Please list the Top 5 things that you can think of that could
cause global climate change?” The second section aimed to assess people’s concern about the
effects of global warming with questions such as “Are you concerned by increase in storms”
or “Are you concerned by increase Sea-level rise?” Finally, in the last section, we measured
the level of agreement of people with different statements associated with global warming.
Items were for instance: “Harm to the environment is justified if it brings an economic
benefit” or “We can trust the government to protect the environment”
A total of 22 persons responded to our questionnaire: 12 respondents were American and
the remaining 10 were French. They were mainly adults (mean ageFR = 36 and mean ageUS =
42).
In the next part of the report, we will try to summarize the results of this survey, stressing
on differences vs similarities between French and American answers. Concerning data
analysis, means were chosen as indicator for questions implying quantitative answers.
Differences in means were statistically tested using a Student t-test. Classification and
frequencies were used for the open-ended questions.
Part I: Global representation of global warming, its causes and its evolution
Globally, few differences appeared between French and American people in this section.
Both French and American people think that climate changes are facts rather than myths
(MFR = 5,80 and MUS = 4,92). They are also equally and rather moderately concerned about
the possibility of global climate changes (MFR = 4,30 and MUS = 4,70). Both American and
French people largely declared being aware of scientific evidence of global climate change
(%FR = 80% and %US = 83%).
Concerning the Top 5 lists provided in Tables A and B, answers are also globally similar.
Small exceptions appear concerning the origin of climate changes. Even if both American and
French people think pollution and greenhouse gas are the most responsible, the opinions are
quite different about the other factors. The Oklahoma people’s point of view is more based on
the Nature and how human beings destroy it, with element such as the deforestation or using
non-renewable energies as petrol; whereas French are more concerning by the industrial
overproduction.
23 Besides, American and French people think that the four more polluting countries are
respectively China, USA, India, Russia; and USA, China, India, Russia but the percentages
are different. Also, the opinions are different concerning the other country considerate as
polluting: 50%FR= Japan, vs 20%US= Mexico and Germany
France
Polluting energy and pollution: 58.3%
Greenhouse gas: 50.0%
Overproduction and intensive stockbreeding: 33.3%
Disrespectful industries: 25.0%
Rise of population: 16.7%
Oklahoma
Pollution: 70.0%
Greenhouse gas: 70.0%
Burning fossil fuels: 40.0%
Cut down too many trees: 30.0%
Reduction of the ozone layer: 20.0%
Table A: The five main things which can occur climate changes
France:
USA
China
India
Russia
Japan
83.3%
75.0%
75.0%
58.3%
50.0%
Oklahoma:
China
USA
India
Russia
Mexico
Germany
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
20.0%
20.0%
Table B: The five main countries responsible of climate changes
American and French indicated comparable estimations concerning the probability (in %)
that human actions already have changed the climate (M%FR = 56,10 and M%US = 57,33).
They also think that human actions will probably not change climate in a positive way (M%FR
= 20,80 and M%US = 37,08) and will probably change things in a negative way (M%FR =
64,50 and MUS% = 42,58). Finally, a difference appeared concerning the fact that people
should take precautionary measures to prevent climate changes. If everybody agreed on the
necessity of taking precautionary measures, French people are even more incline than
American people to that kind of measures (MFR = 6,80 and MUS = 6,00).
Part II: concern about the effects of global warming
No significant differences appeared concerning levels of concern about sea-rise (MFR =
4,90 and MUS = 4,25) and changes in weather patterns (MFR = 5,30 and MUS = 4,83). On the
contrary, French people systematically declared being significantly more concerned than
American people about storms frequency (MFR = 5,60 and MUS = 4,60), floods frequency
(MFR = 5,60 and MUS = 4,42) and species loss (MFR = 6,10 and MUS = 4,33).
24 In sum, American people appeared to be globally less concerned than French people,
whatever was the topic of concern assessed. Indeed, American people’s means are relatively
close of the middle of the 7 points scale (ranging from 4,22 to 4,83) whereas French people’s
means are rather on the right of the scale (ranging from 4,90 to 6,10).
Part III: agreement of people with different statements associated with global warming
In this last part of the questionnaire, we asked participants to give us their level of
agreement with different statements related to global warming and particularly with possible
“human” justifications or reasons for global warming, importance of Nature, and actions at
different levels of the society.
First, Nature clearly appeared to be important for all the people of our sample. Thus
respondents indicated that it is very important to treat Nature respectfully (MFR = 6,30 and
MUS = 5,25) as well as to preserve environment for future generations (MFR = 6,10 and MUS =
6,25). Then, concerning the “human justifications”, participants disagreed or strongly
disagreed with the reasons proposed. No significant difference yielded from the analyses on
the statements “harm to the environment is justified if it brings an economic benefit” and (MFR
= 1,80 and MUS = 2,67) and “It is alright to sacrifice other species in order to satisfy human
needs” (MFR = 2,40 and MUS = 2,67). On the statement “Nature is wild and should be tamed
to serve mankind”. While the whole population disagreed with the statement, American
people scored extremely than French people (MFR = 3,30 and MUS = 2,17). Finally, nor
American nor French thought they could trust their government (MFR = 1,90 and MUS = 2,17)
or their businesses (MFR = 1,60 and MUS = 1,75) to protect the Environment. If every
individual agreed on the fact that he/she has a role to play through his/her actions (MFR = 6,90
and MUS = 6,25), when American disagreed, French people displayed a large agreement with
the fact that individual choices about environment will provide adequate environment
protection (MFR = 5,40 and MUS = 2,92).
25 Conclusion
The questionnaire was designed to assess the representation of American people and
French people about global warming. It appeared that representations of global warming, its
causes and its evolution are globally the same: global warming is considered as a fact proved
by scientific evidence. There is also a large agreement on the reasons that could explain
global warming, as well as on the “who” and “why”. If the level of concern associated is
rather moderate, French people tend to appear more pessimistic than American concerning the
future. If everybody agreed on the necessity of taking precautionary measures, French people
are more incline to that kind of measures.
Measures of specific concerns about the effects of global warming indicated that American
people are globally less concerned than French people, whatever was the topic of concern
assessed. We could have expected differences on the items measuring typical French vs
American natural disorder (i.e., floods vs storms), but results indicated no concern differences
on those dimensions. Finally, levels of agreement of people with the statements related to
possible “human” justifications for global warming, importance of Nature, and actions at
different levels of the society are globally equivalent. A unique difference of point of view
appeared on the fact that individual choices about environment would provide adequate
environment protection. When French agreed on that point, American disagreed.
In guise of conclusion, we found that the fact that both countries are regularly victims of
different natural disasters (floods in the Aisne and storms in Oklahoma) seems to have no
impact on the perception of climate changes for these two populations. Cultural differences
also appeared to be minimal. If it is clearly positive to notice that American and French are
aware of the global warming problems, associated levels of concern, individual willingness to
act and faith in politics and industries to improve things are not the most auspicious for the
future…
26 References
http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/
http://articles.cnn.com/
http://www.koco.com/
http://www.windows2universe.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/ http://france.meteofrance.com/
http://temoins.bfmtv.com/
http://www.metrofrance.com/
-Historical center in Oklahoma City
-Books I read in Westmoore High School library
27 Schoolproject:Climatechanges‐USversion‐
This survey is about global climate changes. Please answer all the questions below by indicating what corresponds the best to what you think. * Required Do you think that global climate changes are myth or facts? * 1 Myth 2 3 4 5 6
7
Facts
How concerned are you about the possibility of global climate changes? * 1 Not concerned at all 2 3 4
5
6
7
Extremely concerned Are you aware of any scientific evidence of global climate change? *

Yes

No
Please list the Top 5 things that you can think of that could cause global climate change. *
List the top 5 countries you believe could contribute to global climate change. *
In your mind, what is the probability that human actions have already changed global climate?
* Please indicate the percentage corresponding the best to what you think
28 In your mind, what are the chances that human actions, in the future, will change global
climate in a positive way?
* Please indicate the percentage corresponding the best to what you think
In your mind, what are the chances that human actions, in the future, will change global
climate in a negative way?
* Please indicate the percentage corresponding the best to what you think
Should people be taking precautionary measures to prevent global climate change caused by
human actions? *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Not at all
Absolutely
Who should be preventing global climate change? *

UNO

The government of my country

Industries and enterprises

Every citizen
Scientists have given us this list of possible effects if global
warming occurs. For each of these effects, indicate your
level of concern by using the scale
Sea-Level Rise *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Extremely concerned
Not concerned at all
Changes in weather patterns (e.g., seasons) *
1
2
3
4
5
Not concerned at all
6
7
Extremely concerned
Increase in storms *
29 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Not concerned at all
Extremely concerned
Increase in floods *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Not concerned at all
Extremely concerned
Species loss *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Not concerned at all
Extremely concerned
For each of the following statements, fill in the response
that best represents your understanding.
Harm to the environment is justified if it brings an economic benefit *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
There is nothing I can do to change environmental conditions *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
It is important to preserve the environment for future generations *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
Nature is divine, and should be treated respectfully *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
It is all right to sacrifice other species in order to satisfy human needs *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
We can trust the government to protect the environment *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
30 We can trust businesses to make the right decisions to protect the environment *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Strongly disagree
Strongly agree
Who are you?
Gender

Male

Female
Age
Occupation
31