When the average coverage of sea ice on Earth decreases, which of the following numbers shown in a hypothetical figure increases?

When the average coverage of sea ice on Earth decreases, the phenomenon that corresponds to the increase in the values associated with the choices revolves around the albedo effect and the Earth's energy balance.

Sea ice has a high albedo, meaning it reflects a significant portion of incoming solar radiation back into space. When this ice melts, it is replaced by darker ocean water, which has a much lower albedo. Consequently, more sunlight is absorbed rather than reflected. This leads to an increase in the thermal energy absorbed by the Earth's surface, which would correlate with an increase in energy values representing that absorption.

The choice that indicates an increase in absorbed energy due to decreased ice coverage is crucial because it ties directly to the effects of climate change. As the surface absorbs more solar energy instead of reflecting it, the resulting increase in absorbed energy can lead to a rise in global temperatures, contributing to further climate change impacts.

This process highlights the positive feedback loop where less ice leads to more absorption and thus accelerates warming, making it a critical factor in understanding climate dynamics.