Question

Greenland's glaciers are melting into the sea twice as fast as previously believed, the result of a warming trend that renders obsolete predictions of how quickly the Earth's oceans will rise over the next century. Do you think this will happen? Can adjusting human activity make a difference? Do you think it is a scare tactic and we are simply in a regular cycle which has happened before in the Earth's long history?

a) Yes, this will happen, and adjusting human activity can make a difference.

b) No, this will not happen; it's a scare tactic. We are in a regular cycle that has occurred before in Earth's history.

c) Yes, this will happen, but adjusting human activity won't make a significant difference.

d) No opinion.

Answer 1

Greenland's glaciers and global sea levels are rapidly changing due to human-induced climate change, not merely regular Earth cycles, and adjusting human activities can mitigate these effects.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rapid melting of Greenland's glaciers and the projected rise in global sea levels due to climate change are significant concerns that are backed by scientific evidence. Several factors contribute to this phenomenon, including the expansion of ocean water as it warms, the melting of mountain glaciers and ice caps, and the flow of ice from Greenland and the Antarctic into the ocean. Observations indicate that glaciers are retreating worldwide, and Arctic sea ice is much thinner than it was in the 1950s.

The rate of temperature increase is unprecedented in modern history, and coastal cities are already making plans to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels. Combined, these factors suggest that a more substantial effect of human activity on the environment, through increased greenhouse gas emissions, is exacerbating these conditions, rather beyond any regular cyclical changes Earth might experience. Therefore, the correct answer would be option 'a': Yes, this will happen, and adjusting human activity can make a difference.