Final answer:
The visible spectrum of light that humans can see matches Earth's peak solar irradiance because human vision evolved to efficiently use the available light, which is most abundant in the wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm. Option b. Efficient use of available light is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The visible spectrum of light for human vision closely matches the wavelength region of peak solar irradiance on Earth because living organisms, including humans, have evolved to utilize and respond to the electromagnetic spectrum that is most prevalent in their environment.
The human eye has evolved to detect visible light, with wavelengths between roughly 400 and 700 mm because this spectrum penetrates Earth's atmosphere effectively and is abundantly available from the sun. This is a direct result of the eye's evolution to make efficient use of available light. Plants, too, have evolved to use this same range for photosynthesis, which is crucial for life on Earth, producing sugars and oxygen. The solar irradiance that bathes our planet has driven the evolutionary processes that shape the sensory capabilities of various species, leading humans to develop a vision that is fine-tuned to the most readily available energy source: sunlight. The correct answer to the question is b. Efficient use of available light.