Climatologists observe increased atmospheric temperatures throughout the world over a five-year span.

Question

Which effect is most likely to be caused by this increase in atmospheric temperature?
an increase in the need for fossil fuel production
a decrease in the amount of crops that farmers can produce
a decrease in the amount of storm activity throughout the world
an increase in hearat and lung problemsin humans

Answer 1

The effect most likely to be caused by an increase in atmospheric temperatures is a decrease in the amount of crops that farmers can produce.

Increased temperatures can lead to various challenges for agriculture, including heat stress on crops, altered precipitation patterns, and an increase in pests and diseases. These factors can contribute to reduced crop yields and challenges in food production.

The other options, while they may have some relation to increased temperatures, are less directly linked to the impact of temperature increases:

• An increase in the need for fossil fuel production may occur due to increased energy demands for cooling, but it is not a direct consequence of temperature rise itself.
• A decrease in storm activity is not typically associated with warming; rather, warmer temperatures can lead to more intense storms.
• An increase in heat and lung problems could be a result of higher temperatures, but it’s more specific to public health impacts rather than a direct consequence of the temperature increase itself on a global scale.

Overall, the most direct and observable effect of increased atmospheric temperatures over time is likely to be on agricultural productivity.