The little ice age

Question 1

What was the little ice age? When did this happen?

Answer 1

The little ice age was the longest glacial oscillation in historical times - very cold conditions which occurred globally, it happened between 1550 - 1750

Question 2

Characteristics of event

Answer 2

a low trough of very cold conditions

average temp 1 - 2 degrees

Question 3

What happened when glaciers advanced?

Answer 3

• cold temps globally caused:
• glaciers in Europe to re-advance down valleys - it caused a positive net mass balance (gained more mass than loss) which left terminal moraines once the glacier retreated.
• Arctic sea ice spread further South - polar bears seen in iceland.
• Uk, lowland europe, new york harbour rivers froze over - evident in historical paintings and diaries.

Question 4

Impact of glacial advance on people

Answer 4

• widespread abandonment of upland farms in Scandinavia and iceland.

Question 5

What are the possible causes of this?

Answer 5

• possibly by the cooling effect of volcanic eruptions - aerosols/ash - but this usually only has a cooling effect for a few years - BUT the sequence of eruptions causing short but intense burst of cooling was enough to glaciers + this extra ice reflected more solar radiation + weakened the Atlantic Ocean circulation (gulf stream)

Question 6

What stopped the little ice age?

Answer 6

• Industrial revolution = increase CO2 = caused global warming preventing another stadial.