Answer:
During the past 100 years, the surface that has warmed at a slower rate is the D. Earth's stratosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Earth's stratosphere is the layer of the atmosphere located above the troposphere. Unlike the troposphere, which has experienced significant warming due to greenhouse gas emissions and human activities, the stratosphere has shown a different pattern. In fact, the stratosphere has cooled over the past century rather than warming.
This cooling of the stratosphere is primarily attributed to the depletion of ozone in the stratospheric ozone layer. The release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting substances has led to the thinning of the ozone layer, resulting in a cooling effect in the stratosphere.
It is important to note that while the Earth's troposphere, land, and oceans have experienced warming over the past century, the stratosphere has exhibited a cooling trend.