A particularly harsh winter was reported in North America following the eruption of the Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington state during the summer of 1980. This suggests that significant volcanic eruptions lead to a decrease in atmospheric temperatures.

Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously undermines this argument? (A) The cooling effect caused by the Mount St. Helens eruption was offset by a significant increase in ocean temperatures in the Atlantic. (B) There is a notable correlation between volcanic eruptions and the intensity of droughts in Australia. (C) Several months after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991, temperatures in the surrounding areas were higher than anticipated based on historical climate data. (D) The climatic impacts of major volcanic eruptions can temporarily obscure the ongoing warming trend due to elevated levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. (E) A few months after a volcanic eruption in the Caribbean in the early 20th century, coastal water temperatures began to rise.