Author: P. Gosselin
Author: Klimanachrichten
The period from 1250 to 1860 is also known as the Little Ice Age. We've reported here several times. The Little Ice Age was the underdog of expeditions like the Franklin Expedition. Although the crew set out in the summer, their search for the Northwest Passage was hampered by ice. Franklin was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He paid the price with death.
AI generated images. Source: Climate News
But what was the climate like? Volcanoes played an important role, but solar activity also played a minimal role. However, summer is not always humid and cool.
A 2022 study looked at this topic. The summary is as follows:
The Little Ice Age (LIA) lasted from approximately 1250 to 1860 AD and was probably the coldest period in the past 8,000 years. Using new literature data and an analysis of high mountain glacier fluctuations, the complex transition from medieval climate anomalies to LIA in Europe and the consequent high variability in seasonal temperatures is described and explained. The onset of LIA may differ in the two hemispheres. The lower average temperatures in LIA are primarily due to the greater number of cold winters. Instead, many summers are warm and dry.
Important triggers for cooler temperatures were primarily the numerous volcanic eruptions and weak solar irradiance during the four well-known solar minima (Wolf, Spole, Maunder, and Dalton). Falling temperatures trigger sea ice albedo feedback and lead to a weakening of the Atlantic overturning circulation, which may be related to the trend of negative North Atlantic Oscillation Index values.
Statistics on extreme events show a mixed picture. The correlation with forcing factors is weak and can only be related to “years without summer”, which often occur after large volcanic eruptions.
We must always remember that the mid-nineteenth century was the result of a combination of factors. The climate reversal comes after one of the coldest periods in the past eight thousand years. In addition, the industrialization of the world and the massive use of coal began. Land was reshaped on a massive scale, such as during the colonization of North America.
This period also marked the birth of modern meteorology. During the Crimean War, France lost much of its fleet to an unprepared storm. Take this as a lesson, weather forecasts are based on data and certainly cannot be compared to today. However, due to the use of the telegraph, storm warnings could also be issued at that time. So a lot of things came together.
A recent study on the subject found that volcanic activity was mostly “responsible” (51% involved), but that the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), which particularly affects European winters, was also involved, while the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) was also involved. Get involved. In any case, we would do well to remember that nothing in nature is constant and romanticized images from before the mid-19th century should be viewed critically. So next time we hear the words “pre-industrial,” keep this article in mind.
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