The following pieces of empirical evidence have been collected over the years: Historical trend data show an increase in temperature globally Levels of carbon dioxide gas are on the rise Levels of methane gas are on the rise Glacial ice is melting Antarctic and Artic sea ice is melting Which statement best explains the significance of this empirical evidence? a
It provides a hypothesis for the climate of the past.
b
It provides data for science journals and textbooks.
c
It supports the scientific explanation for global warming.
d
It predicts future weather patterns.

C. It supports the scientific explanation for global warming.

Explanation:

The listed pieces of empirical evidence support the scientific explanation for global warming. Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth's climate, and the increase in levels of carbon dioxide and methane is the reason why glacial ice in the Antarctic and Arctic sea is melting.

These pieces of evidence don't deal with the past of the future. They tell us what is going on right now. Based on them, we could make an assumption about what is going to happen in the future, but there are no predictions here.

Also, this data can be used for science journals and textbooks, but that purpose is not expressed here.

This leaves us with option C as the correct one.