In recent years, scientists have examined sources of data to determine if human activities have influenced global climate change. Scientists have collected data on the extent of Arctic sea ice between 1980 and 2009 shown in the graph. What information from the graph could scientists use to strengthen their argument about the relationship between recent human activities and climate change? Graph shows the change in Arctic ice thickness from mean, 1953-2013. The X axis indicates the year and the Y axis indicates the deviation from the mean ice thickness. In 1953 the deviation shows to be about 1.5 and concludes in 2013 at -2.
© 2016, National Snow & Ice Data Center

The extent of sea ice has consistently varied from year to year and does not indicate recent human activities have influenced overall global climate change.

The extent of sea ice shows a steady decline over the past 30 years indicating increasing human activities that release greenhouse gases have influenced global climate change.

A model based on previous and future sea ice extent is needed to determine if recent human activities have influenced global climate change.

The extent of sea ice shows natural fluctuations and does not indicate a pattern that human activities have influenced overall global climate change.