Which of the following best explains the impact of climate change on polar regions?
(A) Polar regions are warming more slowly than other regions because the ice and snow keep the air cool.
(B) Polar regions are warming more slowly than other regions because atmospheric circulation wind patterns trap cold air at the poles.
(C) Polar regions are warming more quickly than other regions because more carbon dioxide can dissolve in colder water.
(D) Polar regions are warming more quickly than other regions because warming decreases the coverage of high-albedo ground cover like ice and snow.
Answer – (D) Polar regions are warming more quickly than other regions because warming decreases the coverage of high-albedo ground cover like ice and snow.
The influence of the changes in climate on the polar regions has been explained in option (D) in a most appropriate manner. The rise in temperature of the Earth due to global warming had led to a huge reduction in the coverage of high-albedo ground cover that include snow and ice. Global warming and rising temperatures have played an important role in leading to huge changes within the natural environment. The decreasing high-albedo ground cover has further led to the increased absorption of the levels of solar radiation that also accelerates the increasing warmth within the polar regions. This process is considered to be ice-albedo feedback-based loop. Ice-albedo feedback loop can be defined as the positive feedback-based loop within the climatic system which takes place when melting ice exposed the darker surfaces which can absorb higher levels of heat that causes higher melting of ice. The cycle continues that increases overall warmth of the Earth. The options “(A) Polar regions are warming more slowly than other regions because the ice and snow keep the air cool.” and “(B) Polar regions are warming more slowly than other regions because atmospheric circulation wind patterns trap cold air at the poles.” are considered to be incorrect as they do not provide a clear picture based on the impact that rising temperature of the Earth has on the Polar regions. On the other hand, the option “(C) Polar regions are warming more quickly than other regions because more carbon dioxide can dissolve in colder water.” is also considered to be incorrect as it is not able to provide a correct reason behind melting of ice in the Polar regions.
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