Meteorology & Climatology

This week I wrote a series of articles on the Little Ice Age, which occurred from the early 1400s until the late 1800s. I was amazed to learn the facts about the event. I was especially interested in how the climate transition happened so quickly, in a cause and effect manner. I realized how sensitive the Earth’s climate is to even the smallest changes. Everything is related and has an effect.

I was also amazed at how attentive scientists and astronomers of that time period were to changes affecting the climate. Astronomers meticulously counted each and every sunspot they observed on the sun, closely studying the sun for a 70-year time period! They were able to determine the Maunder Minimum, with limited technology. They concluded that this event of lower solar activity, resulted in cooler temperatures on Earth.

I don’t remember learning about the Little Ice Age, the era of colder temperatures, in school. I do remember learning about George Washington, and vaguely remember hearing about snow storms and frozen rivers. I’m not sure why it never dawned on me how different it was in colonial times compared to now.

My research into the Little Ice Age made me wonder how the settling of America would have been if the winters had been warmer. What difference would a normal winter have had on those trying to survive in the New World?