Which of the following is a consequence of global warming?

• A. Decreased ocean levels
• B. Stable climate with fewer extreme events
• C. Melting icecaps
• D. Decreased weather variability

Answer: (C)

Global warming means more heat is trapped in the atmosphere and oceans, which causes solid water in the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as on glaciers, to melt. That direct melting of icecaps is a clear consequence of rising temperatures. When ice melts, sea levels rise because more water is entering the oceans, and the loss of reflective ice also makes surfaces absorb more heat, potentially accelerating warming. In contrast, a stable climate with fewer extreme events would require less energy in the system, but a warming climate tends to produce more intense heat waves, heavier rainfall, and stronger storms, increasing weather variability rather than reducing it. So melting icecaps best captures what happens with global warming.