What effect does melting sea ice have on the atmosphere?
1. The atmosphere gets cooler because there is more ocean water to absorb heat.
2. The atmosphere gets cooler because ocean temperatures decrease.
3. The atmosphere gets warmer because sea ice releases heat as it melts.
4. The atmosphere gets warmer because there is less sea ice to reflect the sun's rays.
4. The atmosphere gets warmer because there is less sea ice to reflect the sun's rays.
The correct answer is:
4. The atmosphere gets warmer because there is less sea ice to reflect the sun's rays.
When sea ice melts, it reduces the amount of ice coverage on the Earth's surface. As a result, there is a decrease in the albedo, which is the measure of how much of the sun's radiation is reflected back into space. Less sea ice means there is less surface area to reflect the sun's rays, causing more heat to be absorbed by the darker ocean waters. This leads to an increase in the overall temperature of the atmosphere.