Why has the temperature of the Arctic Ocean changed during the last 40 years? A. less snow falls in the Arctic now than 40 years ago. B. more sunlight now reaches Earth than in the past. C. Sea ice has produced more salt, causing the cold ocean water to sink. D. Sea ice has melted, allowing more sunlight to hit the ocean.

Question

Why has the temperature of the Arctic Ocean changed during the last 40 years?  A. less snow falls in the Arctic now than 40 years ago.  B. more sunlight now reaches Earth than in the past.  C. Sea ice has produced more salt, causing the cold ocean water to sink.  D. Sea ice has melted, allowing more sunlight to hit the ocean.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The correct answer is **D. Sea ice has melted, allowing more sunlight to hit the ocean.** Over the last 40 years, the Arctic Ocean has experienced significant warming primarily due to the decrease in sea ice. As sea ice melts, more sunlight is absorbed by the ocean instead of being reflected back into the atmosphere, leading to an increase in water temperature. This process contributes to further melting of ice and a feedback loop that exacerbates warming in the region.