Elevated carbon dioxide levels have been shown to contribute to the greenhouse effect, resulting in an increase in mean global temperature. Ecosystems where the largest warming has already occurred include snow-covered northern coniferous forests, tundra, and arctic sea ice habitats. Which statement best explains how the elimination of ice-covered ecosystems affects the rise or fall in global temperature?
A. Melting ice releases dissolved ozone gas, which adds to the greenhouse effect.
B. Large-scale ice melts actually contribute toward lowering global temperatures by decreasing salinity of the oceans.
C. More reflective surfaces of ice are replaced with darker, more absorptive surfaces, thereby contributing to the warming trend.
D. Carbon dioxide levels are lowered as a result of greater volume of water to accommodate greater dissolved gas.

Ice-covered surfaces are highly reflective of the sun's rays therefore prevent those areas from warming as much as the areas where the ice is replaced with darker, less reflective surfaces which absorb heat and thus contribute more to global warming. Albedo is the percentage of radiation reflected by the earth's surface. Clear surfaces have greater albedo values than dark surfaces.