Question
The maps below compare global temperatures in two different years—1950 and 2012. The more blue a region is, the colder it was compared to the mid-twentieth century average. The more red a region is, the warmer it was compared to the mid-twentieth century average.
Images courtesy of NASA
If a student wants to understand what has led to this change, what is the best scientific question he or she could ask an expert?
A.
How many different ways do humans generate energy from fossil fuels?
B.
What processes cause global temperatures to change from one year to another?
C.
Are renewable energy resources better for the environment than nonrenewable ones?
D.
How does global warming impact cities along the world's coastlines?
Images courtesy of NASA
If a student wants to understand what has led to this change, what is the best scientific question he or she could ask an expert?
A.
How many different ways do humans generate energy from fossil fuels?
B.
What processes cause global temperatures to change from one year to another?
C.
Are renewable energy resources better for the environment than nonrenewable ones?
D.
How does global warming impact cities along the world's coastlines?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The best scientific question a student could ask to understand the change in global temperatures from 1950 to 2012 is:
**B. What processes cause global temperatures to change from one year to another?**
This question directly addresses the factors that contribute to changes in temperature over time, which is the core of understanding the temperature differences observed in the maps.
**B. What processes cause global temperatures to change from one year to another?**
This question directly addresses the factors that contribute to changes in temperature over time, which is the core of understanding the temperature differences observed in the maps.