The measurement of the Earth’s atmospheric temperature over the past

The measurement of the Earth’s atmospheric temperature over the past few decades indicate that global warming is continually increasing, but that irreversible climate changes may happen sôner than scientists earlier estimated.

Meaning:

1. There is the measurement of the Earth's atmospheric temperature over the past few decades
2. This measurement indicates that global warming is continually increasing
3. "But" that irreversible climate changes may happen sôner than scientists earlier estimated.

Errors:


Meaning of the original sentence is clear enough.
Presence of 'but' is questionable there is no contrast.
Global warming is continually increasing that is why irreversible climate changes may happen sôner than scientists have previously thought. "but" starts new IC - it is incorrect.
Moreover subject "the measurement' singular - verv 'indicate' - plural - SV pair doesn't agree in number.

POE:

(A) and (D) are out because 'but' distorts the intended meaning of the sentence:
(B) is out because SV pair doesn't agree in number

A. indicate that global warming is continually increasing, but that
B. indicate that global warming has been continually increasing and that
C. indicates that global warming has been continually increasing and that
D. indicates that warming of the globe is continually increasing, but
E. indicates that global warming is continually increasing and that

We have 2 answer choices left (C) and (E):

C. indicates that global warming has been continually increasing and that
E. indicates that global warming is continually increasing and that

SV - measurement-indicates - agree in number, we don't have any 'but' so far so good.

The main difference is 'verb tenses'

'has been increasing' VS 'is increasing'

Present perfect continuous - indicates action that started some time in the past and continues till the present time, or how long is this action going on. We need some time indicator of the past 'since 1900' or for 100 years' and so on.

Present continuous - currently ongoing action.

There is no time indicator in (C) and we don't really need to state that the warming started some time in the past.
Even if the measurement of the Earth’s atmospheric temperature was carried out over the past few decades, it doesn't necessarily mean that the global warming also started to heat up the temperature few dacades ago.
(C) is not bad, but (E) is more simple and elegant in the given context.

E. indicates that global warming is continually increasing and that



E is the answer.