Question

Which evidence supports Painter's claim that "dirty snow" retreats faster than fresh snow?

A. "For nearly a decade, Painter and colleagues have been examining the effects of snow
impurities in the mountains of the Colorado
River Basin."
B. " 'Dust on the snowpack of the Colorado River Basin can shorten the duration of snow cover
by twenty-one to fifty-one days, Painter says."
C. "Since soil and vegetation are darker than snow, they absorb more sunlight and reinforce the warming, melting, and evaporation."
D. "Snow is whiter than ice, so it acts as a reflector and insulator on top of glaciers."

Answer 1

Answer: option B

Step-by-step explanation:

The evidence that supports Painter's claim that "dirty snow" retreats faster than fresh snow is option B: "'Dust on the snowpack of the Colorado River Basin can shorten the duration of snow cover by twenty-one to fifty-one days," Painter says. This statement indicates that the presence of dust on the snowpack leads to a faster retreat of the snow.

Option A indicates that Painter has been studying the effects of snow impurities, but it doesn't directly support the claim that dirty snow retreats faster than fresh snow.

Option C describes how soil and vegetation absorb more sunlight than snow, but it doesn't specifically address the retreat of dirty snow.

Option D describes how snow acts as a reflector and insulator on top of glaciers, but it doesn't directly support the claim that dirty snow retreats faster than fresh snow.