Last week the NOAA announced that April was the 400th month of
warmer than average temperature (and caused by us). The NOAA has
been tracking temperature since 1880 and reports it has been
getting warmer. Interesting that it corresponds directly to the
end of the Little Ice Age around 1860. During the Little Ice
Age, average global temperatures were 1-1.5 degree Celsius (2-3
degrees Fahrenheit) cooler than they are today.
The Little Ice Age followed the Medieval Warm Period also known
as the Medieval Climate Optimum, or Medieval Climatic Anomaly.
Scientists believe possible causes of the Medieval Warm Period
include increased solar activity, decreased volcanic activity,
and changes to ocean circulation.
As late as 2012, scientists still did not agree when the Little
Ice age specifically began or ended. Some believe 1300s
beginning and others believe 1600s. Most agree it ended in the
mid 1800s. A theory from 2012 reports that an unusual,
50-year-long episode of four massive tropical volcanic eruptions
triggered the Little Ice Age. Their results are in contrast to
the work of other scientists who contend that decreased
radiation from the sun is what caused the Little Ice Age.
Scientists mostly agree that the warm period was caused by less
volcanic activity and more solar activity. They also mostly
agree it was followed by the ice age, which was caused by more
volcanic activity and less solar activity.
They all agree that the earth has tilted on its axis over time
and there have been many periods of colder weather and many
periods of warmer weather on earth during the past millions of
years.
Scientists also all agree that mankind cannot control volcanoes,
the sun, or the earth tilting on its axis. What they cannot
agree on is whether this time climate change is our fault,
politics, or just another natural cycle of Mother Nature toying
with us.
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