L3 - What the Dickens? Flashcards
What does LIA stand for?
Little Ice Age
What does MWP stand for?
Medieval Warm Period
How long was the LIA and how long was it for?
It was over 400 years long, from 1250 - 1650
What was the climate like during early Victorian times?
Very cold, almost freezing
What is Permafrost?
Where the water in the ground is permanently frozen
Evidence of cold climate from Dickens?
Several of his novels suggest very cold snowy winters in London and white Christmases.
Sources of Evidence for LIA?
Tree Rings
Images in Historical Books
Farming Records
Grape Harvests
Historical Accounts - Napoleons Troop freezing to death in 1812
European Ancestors adapted to a cooler period
How do tree rings show climate change?
Tree rings allow us to see the rate of growth of the trees.
Trees that depend heavily on temperature in the growing season will have narrow rings during cold periods and wider rings for warm periods.
Trees that depend heavily on moisture during the growing season will have wider rings during rainy periods and narrower rings during dry periods.
What did the Tree Rings show to prove the LIA?
That growth was at a slower pace than usual in the winter in the 1700’s, showing colder temperatures
What did the farming records show to prove the LIA?
The records showed that planting was delayed.
This means that there may have been unfavourable growing conditions, as a result of colder winters.
What were Frost Fairs?
The were small fairs which were based on the frozen river Thames and happened during the winter. They lasted 4 to 7 days and provided all manner of services and entertainment
How does the existence of frost fairs show evidence of the LIA?
They were generally on the frozen river Thames, which showed the really cold climate, as it would have to be quite cold for the Thames to freeze.
Also, they were aptly named frost fairs, meaning they would happen when there was a hard frost.
What are the (4) Implications of colder times?
Difficult Farming Conditions
Increasingly Hostile Environments
Transport Affected - frozen rivers, impassable highlands
Habitats Destroyed and Food Webs affected
What happens when there are difficult farming conditions?
Drop in agricultural output
Marginal agricultural land no longer productive
Food shortages
Famine and price rises
What happens when there are increasing hostile environments?
People forced to move
Spike in death rates due to illness and malnutrition
