The correct answer is:
1. size of the polar ice caps
Global warming has been directly linked to the decrease in the size of the polar ice caps. As the Earth's temperature rises due to factors like greenhouse gas emissions, the polar ice caps, especially in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, are melting at an accelerated rate. This melting contributes to rising sea levels, impacting coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and wildlife that depend on the ice for habitat and survival. The loss of ice also affects the Earth's albedo, which is the amount of sunlight reflected back into space, further exacerbating the warming trend.
