A panel of distinguished scientists, appearing at a Capitol Hill briefing organized by AAAS, surveyed a broad range of data and research that affirm a clear human link to global climate disruptions.

While climate change science has been subject to sometimes vitriolic attacks in recent months, the briefing took a tempered tone. The speakers emphasized the value of bucking conventional scientific wisdom, but showed that the arguments commonly used by climate change skeptics tend to fall apart when subjected to close scrutiny.

The percentage of Americans who believe global warming is real dropped slightly from 80% in 2008 to 75% late last year, still a robust majority that reflects a continued agreement with the conclusions of climate science, a leading specialist on survey research told a Capitol Hill briefing co-sponsored by AAAS.