A climate scientist proposes that recent extreme heat waves in Europe are caused not solely by gradual warming but by a slowing of the jet stream, which allows heat domes to linger over regions for weeks. A competing hypothesis attributes the heat waves to local urbanization.
Which finding, if true, would most strongly support the climate scientist's proposal over the competing hypothesis?
- Acheck_circle
During recent extreme heat waves, the jet stream displayed unusually weak and stagnant patterns, and heat anomalies were equally severe in rural areas as in cities.
- B
Some heat waves have occurred outside of summer.
- C
Heat waves can damage crops and infrastructure.
- D
European cities have grown larger over the past 50 years.
Explanation
A provides evidence of the jet-stream pattern and shows rural-urban parity, ruling out urbanization as the main driver and supporting the proposal. B is consistent with the competing hypothesis; C and D are tangential.