Understanding the Current Climate Trends: Are We on the Verge of a New Little Ice Age?

Introduction to the Little Ice Age

The Little Ice Age, as defined by Britannica, was a cold spell lasting from about 1350 to 1850. During this period, there was a notably colder spell from 1645 to 1715, known as the Maunder Minimum. This cold period was marked by significant climatic impacts, including repeated crop failures, which led to a high mortality rate—approximately a quarter of the Northern Hemisphere population perished. Additionally, there were instances of mass persecution of elderly women, accused of causing the cold temperatures through witchcraft, highlighting the social and climatic conditions of the time.

The Major Causes of the Little Ice Age

The primary cause of the cold weather during the Little Ice Age was an extended period of very low solar activity, known as a Grand Solar Minimum (GSM). This phenomenon seems to occur periodically, and research indicates that we entered a new GSM in 2020. Predictions suggest that solar activities for the next few solar cycles will be very low. Dr. V. Zharkova first theorized about this approaching cold spell about a decade ago, and NASA has since confirmed that this began in 2020 and could last for several solar cycles, potentially extending as far as 2050.

Modern Understanding of Climate Trends

While the cold we can expect is not likely to be as severe as during the Little Ice Age, the Earth's current high geologic and volcanic activities may mitigate, or even cancel, the temperature decline. The volcanic history and its impact on global temperatures provides insights into how volcanic activities have influenced past climate phenomena.

According to Peter Langdon Ward's book, 'What Really Causes Global Warming,' the chart illustrates the role of volcanic activities in terminating the last ice age approximately 15,000 years ago. The increased volcanic activity warmed the ocean waters, leading to the end of the ice age by around 10,000 years ago. The chart also shows how volcanic activities gradually decreased until about 1,000 years ago, yet the warmed ocean waters maintained global temperatures at a warm and stable state.

Is a New Little Ice Age Possible?

It is important to consider the current climate trends and the role of volcanic activities in modern climate dynamics. The red line in the chart represents volcanic activity levels, which have been increasing about 1,000 years ago, terminating the Little Ice Age around 1850 and continuing to this day. There is no indication that these activities are decreasing now or in the near future.

Based on this information, it appears that Earth's geologic and volcanic heating has been and continues to be a significant factor in global warming since 1850. The expectation is that these geologic and volcanic warming trends will continue, and temperatures for the next few decades are likely to be similar to the past several decades.

Conclusion

While the possibility of a new Little Ice Age exists, the current data and research suggest that the Earth's geologic and volcanic activities are more likely to maintain or even prevent a significant drop in global temperatures. Understanding these historical and ongoing climate phenomena is crucial for preparing and adapting to future climatic changes.