Using cores of fossil coral from the Palmyra Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean, Burgman and a team used reconstructed sea surface temperatures from the period 1320 to 1462 to simulate medieval climate conditions with a state-of-the-art climate model. When the differences between medieval and modern climate simulations were compared with paleo-records like tree-rings and sediment cores from around the globe, the authors found remarkable agreement.
During the 142-year study period, the sea surface temperature dropped only one-tenth of one degree, but it was enough to cause arid conditions in North America and Europe.
Read More about the affects of the Pacific Ocean on Medieval Europe, North America @Sciencedaily
- University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science. "A Cooler Pacific May Have Severely Affected Medieval Europe, North America." ScienceDaily 9 June 2010. 9 June 2010
1 Comment:
Very interesting. I remember reading that cooler conditions from the past actually lead to the exploration where they discovered America.
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