What was the Little Ice Age?:
What was the Little Ice Age? A cold period between 1550 AD and 1850 AD Average global temperature drop of 4 ° Fahrenheit A period of unpredictable and volatile weather conditions The Little Ice Age is a period of global cooling between the 16 th and 19 th centuries that began a series of unpredictable weather patterns across the world. While their was only an average drop of 4 ° Fahrenheit in temperature, it was enough to cause periods of massive rain, snow and cold. Glaciers expanded and torrential rains followed by snow storms hit Europe, ruining crops and starving the population. Colder temperatures across the world led to shifts in agriculture and surprising events in warfare and innovation.
Effects of the Little Ice Age: Agriculture:
Effects of the Little Ice Age: Agriculture Farms and villages in the Swiss Alps and French Alps destroy farms and villages In Northern Europe Rains washed away farmland and long winters made crops unreliable sources of food The Great Famine of 1315-1317 killed millions in Northern Europe Europeans advance farming methods to cope The Little Ice Age was responsible for massive famine in Northern Europe. Some famines claimed huge numbers of lives, such as the Great Famine of 1315-1317. Nations such as France and Norway lost 10% of their populace from famine in the late 1600's. Farmers were forced to come up with ways to deal with the cold, wet conditions. Many Europeans switched from Cereal Grains to more resistant crops such as turnips, clover and potatoes. During this period, the low success of vineyards in Northern Europe led to the use of cereal crops for beer and hard liquor production.
Effects of the Little Ice Age: Military:
Effects of the Little Ice Age: Military In 1588, half of the Spanish Armada is destroyed by harsh weather conditions In 1812, Napoleon's invasion force of Russia is destroyed by Russian Winter In 1776, Washington's Continental Army successfully cross an ice covered Delaware river to victory against Hessian Mercenaries The Little Ice Age is responsible for several important military events that changed history. One of them was the crippling of the Spanish Armada, which attempted to escape a British blockade by traveling around England, only to take heavy losses from stormy weather. Another key event was the destruction of Napoleon’s army of 600,000 to Russian winter. Only a small fraction of the force survived to tell the tale. Finally, in 1776 George Washington had to cross an unusually icy Delaware River, making his surprise attack a much more risky endeavor.
What Caused The Little Ice Age?:
What Caused The Little Ice Age? Orbital Forcing Low solar activity High Volcanic Activity Interference of the Ocean Conveyor Climate Variability Human Population Decrease There are several theories about why the Little Ice Age began. Some believe variations in the Earth's orbit account for the cooling. Other believe that less solar activity during this period caused a cool down. Another possibility is the amount of volcanic eruptions that occurred during the Little Ice Age, which would have released sulfur and ash into the atmosphere, blocking the suns radiation. The ocean “conveyor belt” that transports warm water towards Europe could have been disrupted by glacial melting during the Medieval Warm Period. Other scientists believe natural fluctuations in climate could have spurred the cold period. Decreased population post Black Death could have resulted in a decrease in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to reforestation, resulting is cooling.
Sources:
Sources Film Little Ice Age: Big Chill "Little Ice Age." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia . Web. 04 July 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_ice_age>.