Still, the American public's views on the issue are linked to recent trends in the weather, Rabe said.
The jump in public opinion over the past four months took place in southern states, including drought-ravaged Texas, where it climbed 13 percentage points to 70 percent this month, according to the poll. Other areas of the country showed modest variations in levels of support.
The latest University of Texas poll also found a sharp divide between political parties, with 87 percent of Democrats saying climate change is taking place compared with 53 percent of Republicans. In March 45 percent of Republican respondents said climate change is happening.
Among independent voters, those saying temperatures are rising jumped to 72 percent in July from 60 percent in March.
Partisan affiliation is the best predictor of someone's belief in climate change, Rabe said.
The University of Texas poll of 1,039 respondents was taken online July 12-16; there were 2,371 respondents in March. The surveys are conducted by the University of Texas at Austin's Energy Management and Innovation Center, a research facility within the McCombs School of Business, with assistance and assistance from industry and environmental groups.