Little Ice Age: Difference between revisions
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<onlyinclude>The '''Little Ice Age (LIA)''' is the name given to a brief [[Glacial and interglacial periods|glaciation period]] that occurred between the 1300s and the mid 1800s. [[Temperature|Temperatures]] dropped an average of 1°C which resulted in significant global glacier advancement.</onlyinclude><ref>S. G. Philander, Ed., Encyclopedia of global warming and climate change, vol. 2, 3 vols. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2008. pp. 522.</ref> The frigid temperatures sent all of Europe, most of North America, the Andes and New Zealand into an [[ice age]].<ref name="ref1"/> | <onlyinclude>The '''Little Ice Age (LIA)''' is the name given to a brief [[Glacial and interglacial periods|glaciation period]] that occurred between the 1300s and the mid 1800s. [[Temperature|Temperatures]] dropped an average of 1°C which resulted in significant global glacier advancement.</onlyinclude><ref>S. G. Philander, Ed., Encyclopedia of global warming and climate change, vol. 2, 3 vols. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2008. pp. 522.</ref> The frigid temperatures sent all of Europe, most of North America, the Andes and New Zealand into an [[ice age]].<ref name="ref1"/> Figure 1 below is a painting that illustrated what the Netherlands looked like during this period. | ||
[[File:lia-1.png|800px|center|thumb|Figure 1 | [[File:lia-1.png|800px|center|thumb|Figure 1. A painting of the frozen canals of the Netherlands during the LIA.<ref name="ref1">S. Marshak, Earth: portrait of a planet, 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2008. Part VI, pp. 797-798.</ref>]] | ||
== Causes == | |||
[[File:Delaygue_TSI.gif|450px|thumb|Figure 2 | [[File:Delaygue_TSI.gif|450px|thumb|Figure 2. Trends displaying the major decreases in solar activity from year 700 to the year 2000.<ref name="ref2">Skeptical Science, “A detailed look at the Little Ice Age”, Sept, 2010. [Online]. Available: https://www.skepticalscience.com/A-detailed-look-at-the-Little-Ice-Age.html. [Accessed: Mar-16-2018].</ref>]] | ||
There is evidence that multiple causes may have resulted in the LIA | There is evidence that multiple causes may have resulted in the LIA. | ||
Here is a video from the Denial 101x series explaining the Little Ice Age: | The most probable theory is a decrease in solar activity, which is directly related to a decrease in the number of sunspots during this time. As a result, the [[Earth]] was receiving less energy from the sun thus lowering temperatures. There were three major decreases in solar activity between 1400 and 1900 known as the [[Spörer Minimum]] (1450-1550), the [[Maunder Minimum]] (1645-1715) and the [[Dalton Minimum]] (1790-1830).<ref name="ref2" /> Figure 2, on the right, is a time graph comparing Total Solar Irradiance (TMI). | ||
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Another theory that may have led to the LIA was an increase in [[External forcing|volcanic activity]]. Volcanic activity such as eruptions release massive amounts of [[Aerosol|aerosols]] into the [[atmosphere]] which, once suspended in the atmosphere for a long period of time, reflect sunlight and ultimately cool Earth’s surface.<ref>B. Allen, “Atmospheric Aerosols: What Are They, and Why Are They So Important?,” NASA, 06-Apr-2015. [Online]. Available: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/Aerosols.html. [Accessed: 09-Feb-2018].</ref> | |||
These factors are an example of [[Natural vs anthropogenic climate change|natural climate change]]. However, Earth is still in the natural warming process from this glacial advance and many [[climate change denier]]s erroneously claim that this is the cause for the current dramatic climate changes. Although natural climate factors have some effect on the current global warming, they are not as pronounced as the human induced factors. | |||
Here is a video from the Denial 101x series explaining the Little Ice Age:<html> | |||
<iframe width="800" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0n3bX_5d7vA" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> | <iframe width="800" height="515" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0n3bX_5d7vA" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> | ||
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*[[Glacial and interglacial periods]] | *[[Glacial and interglacial periods]] | ||
*[[Climate change]] | *[[Climate change]] | ||
*Or explore a [[Special:Random| random page]] | *Or explore a [[Special:Random|random page]] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[category: Uploaded]] | |||
Revision as of 20:31, 31 July 2026
The Little Ice Age (LIA) is the name given to a brief glaciation period that occurred between the 1300s and the mid 1800s. Temperatures dropped an average of 1°C which resulted in significant global glacier advancement.[1] The frigid temperatures sent all of Europe, most of North America, the Andes and New Zealand into an ice age.[2] Figure 1 below is a painting that illustrated what the Netherlands looked like during this period.
Figure 1. A painting of the frozen canals of the Netherlands during the LIA.[2]
Causes
Figure 2. Trends displaying the major decreases in solar activity from year 700 to the year 2000.[3]
There is evidence that multiple causes may have resulted in the LIA.
The most probable theory is a decrease in solar activity, which is directly related to a decrease in the number of sunspots during this time. As a result, the Earth was receiving less energy from the sun thus lowering temperatures. There were three major decreases in solar activity between 1400 and 1900 known as the Spörer Minimum (1450-1550), the Maunder Minimum (1645-1715) and the Dalton Minimum (1790-1830).[3] Figure 2, on the right, is a time graph comparing Total Solar Irradiance (TMI).
Another theory that may have led to the LIA was an increase in volcanic activity. Volcanic activity such as eruptions release massive amounts of aerosols into the atmosphere which, once suspended in the atmosphere for a long period of time, reflect sunlight and ultimately cool Earth’s surface.[4]
These factors are an example of natural climate change. However, Earth is still in the natural warming process from this glacial advance and many climate change deniers erroneously claim that this is the cause for the current dramatic climate changes. Although natural climate factors have some effect on the current global warming, they are not as pronounced as the human induced factors.
Here is a video from the Denial 101x series explaining the Little Ice Age:
For Further Reading
For further information please see the related pages below:
- Ice age
- Rising sea level
- Glacial lake outburst flood (also called GLOFs)
- Glacial and interglacial periods
- Climate change
- Or explore a random page
References
- ↑ S. G. Philander, Ed., Encyclopedia of global warming and climate change, vol. 2, 3 vols. Los Angeles: SAGE, 2008. pp. 522.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 S. Marshak, Earth: portrait of a planet, 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2008. Part VI, pp. 797-798.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Skeptical Science, “A detailed look at the Little Ice Age”, Sept, 2010. [Online]. Available: https://www.skepticalscience.com/A-detailed-look-at-the-Little-Ice-Age.html. [Accessed: Mar-16-2018].
- ↑ B. Allen, “Atmospheric Aerosols: What Are They, and Why Are They So Important?,” NASA, 06-Apr-2015. [Online]. Available: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/Aerosols.html. [Accessed: 09-Feb-2018].