Question

Question Ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere can be disrupted by the loss of Arctic Sea Ice. The amount of ice affects the density of the water which in turn affects ocean currents. Loss of Arctic Sea Ice is associated with a slowing of ocean currents. A warm ocean current causes Western Europe to have mild winters. Based on the diagram below, what year would you expect Western Europe to have had the harshest winter? (1 point) Responses 1982 1982 1999 1999 2012 2012 2018

Answer 1

To determine which year Western Europe would have had the harshest winter based on the loss of Arctic Sea Ice and the effects on ocean currents, you would generally look for the year with the greatest loss of Arctic sea ice, as this would suggest a more significant impact on ocean currents and potentially colder winters in Western Europe.

Without the diagram to provide specific details, I would recommend analyzing the trend of Arctic sea ice loss over the years mentioned (1982, 1999, 2012, 2018). Based on historical data, Arctic sea ice has been declining significantly over recent decades, particularly after 2000.

If we are looking at typical patterns of sea ice loss leading to colder winters in Western Europe, one might hypothesize that 2012, which was one of the years with record low Arctic sea ice extent, could be a candidate for having the harshest winter in Western Europe. However, it's crucial to cross-check this with the specific information that would be shown in the diagram.

In summary, while I cannot confirm without seeing the diagram, historical trends suggest that 2012 may have been associated with harsher winters in Western Europe due to significant loss of Arctic sea ice.