Many Television Weather Forecasters Doubt Global Warming

April 22, 2010— -- When it comes to the weather forecast, climate change may be the biggest of them all -- and the stakes are much higher than whether to bring an umbrella.

While most climatologists agree that humans are driving global warming -- literally, in some respects, because of our reliance on fossil fuels -- some of the most trusted names in the weather business don't buy it.

John Coleman, the founder of "The Weather Channel" and the original weatherman on "Good Morning America," has spoken out with his belief that climate change is a myth.

"I love the Earth and I want to come up with alternative energy sources. I want to protect the water and air," Coleman said in a presentation posted on YouTube. "But I know that the Earth is going to be just fine with burning fossil fuels for as long as they last."

"There isn't any climate crisis," he said. "It's totally manufactured."

Other television weathermen tend to doubt that man has anything to do with it. "To think that we could affect weather all that much is pretty arrogant," said CNN weather anchor Chad Myers on a broadcast. "Mother Nature is so big. I think we're going to die from a lack of fresh water or ocean acidification before we die of global warming."

The view is surprisingly common among television meteorologists -- the folks trusted every day to bring you the five-day forecast.

One of three weather forecasters believe climate change is "caused mostly by human activities," according to a recent study from George Mason University and the University of Texas at Austin. Out of those surveyed, one in four agreed with the statement, "Global warming is a scam."

All told, barely half the forecasters surveyed actually believe in the science of climate change.

To find out why, "Nightline" turned to one of the most prominent doubters, AccuWeather's Joe Bastardi, who has been a frequent guest on "The O'Reilly Factor," weighing in on the highly-politicized climate change debate.