Question

question 10 of 10
which would most likely have caused the giant ice caps that existed in the paleozoic era to melt?

a. decreased volcanic outgassing

b. decreased glacier movement

c. increased plant life

d. increased greenhouse effect

Explanation:

To determine what caused Paleozoic ice caps to melt, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Decreased volcanic outgassing would reduce greenhouse gases, cooling the planet, not melting ice.
• Option B: Glacier movement relates to ice flow, not melting due to temperature.
• Option C: Increased plant life might sequester CO₂, cooling the planet, not melting ice.
• Option D: The greenhouse effect traps heat. An increased greenhouse effect (e.g., from higher CO₂) would warm the planet, causing ice caps to melt. This aligns with climate science principles.

Answer:

D. Increased greenhouse effect