Volcano Eruptions in Iceland

I'd also like to take a moment to point out that these volcanic eruptions, and the corresponding ash in the atmosphere, is one of the reasons why some scientists said that global warming can lead to global cooling. The ash reflects sunlight, meaning longer Winters (there are documented cases of a "no Summer" season after a major eruption... and it happens more often than most people realize).

This global cooling is much shorter lasting than the heating cycle though, and relying on ash to cool us down isn't something we really should be hoping for. The ash, while temporarily cooling the planet, also kills crops, resulting in mass famine and mass death.

 

Actually there is a theory that the dark ages were called the dark ages due to a major volcanic eruption casting a very dust cloud into the atmosphere and causing a partial cooling. They have done studies on tree rings which tell them how much sunlight there was in a given period, and it is showing that there was a lot less than would be thought normal, combining this with checking ice core samples to see what fell in the rain at the same time

 

Agreed.
And as you very well know people seem to like short answers that fit their political or religious beliefs.

 

This wiki is relevant to the discussion:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age

"...Crop practices throughout Europe had to be altered to adapt to the shortened, less reliable growing season, and there were many years of dearth and famine..."

I remember a painting done during this period, a period of abnormal cold. It was of the Thames, by a Dutch I believe, but none of the paintings in this wiki appear to be the one I'm thinking of. Oh well, I have it in one of my art books I think... I'll have to check... I just hope it wasn't in one of the books I had to sell a couple years ago.

I do know the best stringed instruments (like violins) are made from wood growing during this period... since the rings are so tight together and dense.

Under "Causes" they have this:

"Scientists have tentatively identified these possible causes of the Little Ice Age: orbital cycles, decreased solar activity, increased volcanic activity, altered ocean current flows, the inherent variability of global climate, and reforestation following decreases in the human population."