Geographic detail of public opinion.

• Position: Global Warming

A statistical model that accurately estimates public global warming opinion and public policy support in all 50 states, 435 congressional districts, and more than 3,000 counties and cities across the nation has been developed by a team of researchers at Yale University, New Haven, Conn., and Utah State University, Logan. The model allows users to explore public opinion in unprecedented geographic detail.

"Most of the action to reduce carbon pollution and prepare for climate change impacts is happening at the state and local levels of American society," says Anthony Leiserowitz, a research scientist and faculty member at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. "Yet, elected officials, the media, educators, and advocates currently know little about the levels of public and political will for climate action at these subnational levels. State and local surveys are costly and time-intensive and, as a result, most public opinion polling is only done at the national level."

Using the results, the research team also constructed an interactive, online tool called "Yale Climate Opinion Maps," which allows users to explore differences in public opinion in the U.S.

Nationally, 52% of Americans are worried about global warming but, as the...