Investigation of European and Central Asian tree ring series has revealed a 125 year period of dramatic cooling in the 6th and 7th centuries AD. This cooling is thought to due to the two large volcanic eruption of AD 536 and AD 540, and sustained by low solar activity combined with ocean and sea ice feedback mechanisms.

The paper is published in Nature Geoscience here [www.nature.com]. Most may not be able to get the full article but the pdf of the supplimentary material is fully accessible here [www.nature.com]

The article also suggests that this Late Antique Little Ice Age may have aided the Justinian plague as well catalysing the social upheaval during this epoch.

A selection of news articles can be found here

[www.newscientist.com]

[www.spacedaily.com]

[phys.org]

(This could equally belong in Ancient History, so feel free to move it if more appropriate there)

Jonny

The path to good scholarship is paved with imagined patterns. - David M Raup



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/09/2016 05:29AM by JonnyMcA.