The Medieval Warm Period (MWP) occurred between c. 950-1250.
According to data, the event was not global. The temperature rises around the world were not consistent everywhere.
Some places saw warmer temperatures and some places saw colder temperatures. That's why the average global temperature grew about a couple of degrees. Many people compare this past event with the current Anthropogenic Global Warming to establish their beliefs. The Little Ice Age came after the Medieval Warm Period. Read on to know more about the time period.
Myths About Climate
There have been many myths surrounding the previous warm periods, ice ages, and the present climatic problem we are facing owing to severe pollution issues. Some of these myths and the true facts include the following.
Myth one: There have been many climate changes in the past, so the recent climate changes can be explained by that.
Fact: Natural variability is not responsible for the situation Earth is in currently. In the last 1000 years, two climatic episodes have happened; Little Ice Age and Medieval Warm Period and both happened owing to unexplainable random changes in the climate system. However, the current situation of the Earth can be almost entirely blamed on human activities.
Myth two: The climate has changed many times in the past and the current climatic issues might also be because of random climate changes.
Fact: Forest fires occurred owing to natural causes and now they also occur due to man-made reasons. The same can be said of our recent climatic issues. Because all scientific findings point to the fact that sending too much carbon pollution into our atmosphere for years has led to our current predicament.
Myth three: The Medieval Warm Period was actually way warmer than now.
Fact: During the Medieval Warm Period, some places were warmer and some places were colder than usual and on average, the global temperature was certainly cooler than now. Additionally, the cause of the climatic changes in medieval times occurred due to natural causes, so they died down on their own.
The same cannot happen now as the changes are now human-made.
Myth four: Climate goes through a 1500-year natural cycle that dies down on its own and present climatic changes are a part of that.
Fact: The 1500-year climate change cycle occurs in a balance as when the North Pole region warms, the South Pole region cools down, and vice versa. In this way, the average global temperature stays balanced, but currently, both polar regions are suffering from temperature rises. The global temperature on average has also increased unlike during the usual cycle.
Climate Change And Warm Periods
The Medieval Warm Period occurred between c. 950-1250 and the average temperature increased only a couple of degrees more than usual. However, the phenomenon was mainly scattered as some places experienced warmer temperatures while some places experienced cooler temperatures.
Since the 19th century, we have been able to record temperature variations with the help of various gadgets, like rain gauges, barometers, and thermometers.
However, when it comes to older periods of time, we have to rely on historic documentation of certain factors, like the time ice stayed on water bodies, the growing seasons and their lengths, and figures measuring food production.
Many of these types of research have revealed that during the Middle Ages, Europe suffered stretches of reliable weather and quite pleasant conditions for many years.
However, the phenomenon probably didn't occur on a global scale.
Along with the pleasant temperatures, places like parts of Australia, Sierra Nevada, the Asian steppe, and the mountains of North America suffered extended periods of drought. However, a mix of drought and heavy rainfall could be seen in places like North China.
Many historical events even happened because of the Medieval Warm Period. For example, as the land ice and sea ice was shrinking in the Arctic during this time, many new regions became accessible to people.
Because of this, Vikings traveled northwards and further than before.
They reached Iceland and Greenland and there they settled. That's why studies and research on Norse ruins tie the climate change intervals of that time with the New World exploration of Norse people, their settlement in Greenland and Iceland, and a rise in crop diversity and agricultural productivity in northern Europe.
Scientists who have researched the existence and reasons for the Medieval Warm Period have figured out that the basic reasons were probably increased solar activity, decreased volcanic activity, and changes in ocean circulation. Volcanic aerosols block parts of the sunlight that Earth receives, so reduced volcanic activities can lead to a warmer climate.
Scientists think that this warm air traveled by the Gulf Stream along with some other currents of the North Atlantic region contributed to the temperature rise in the area.
Modern Climate Discussion
Research on the Medieval Warm Period still continues because the initial proofs of the time were historic documentation. With time and more research, scientists have found out much more information about the time period.
According to climate research done in the past decade on the Medieval Warm Period, new evidence has popped up that it may have actually been a global event with a very similar effect on the Antarctic Peninsula as the current Anthropogenic Global Warming.
The Medieval Warm Period might have had more climatic effects on the environment than what scientists previously thought.
However, the current Anthropogenic Global Warming started as humans started to use or burn fossil fuels for most of their work.
During the Medieval Warm Period, globally, the temperatures around the world in various regions were inconsistent.
Whereas, now the average global temperature has risen higher. All of it can be traced back to extreme CO2 emission and as we keep emitting more CO2 into Earth's atmosphere, it will keep warming up more.
There are several debates on the cause and effects of the recent Anthropogenic Global Warming, and people have brought up the Medieval Warm Period to compare the situation with the climate changes of the late 20th-early 21st centuries.
Global warming skeptics always cite the Medieval Warm Period to establish some of their points. They say the consequences of the current warming up of Earth's atmosphere are not all negative because, during the Medieval Warm Period, agricultural production grew.
However, the climate is actually very different than before.
Many skeptics spread the rumor that during the Medieval Warm Period, the temperature was much warmer than now. However, the fact will always remain that the Medieval Warm Period occurred owing to natural causes, but the current situation is entirely man-made.
Additionally, if the Medieval Warm Period were to return, it would not be so fruitful as some regions would prosper with good weather whereas some regions would suffer.
FAQs
What are some of the characteristics of the Medieval Warm Period?
One of the characteristics of the Medieval Warm Period was that it was not globally uniform. Also, the Vikings took advantage of the climatic changes to colonize Greenland.
What is a warm period also known as?
Medieval Warm Period is also known as Medieval Climatic Anomaly or Medieval Climate Optimum.
What was the warmest period?
The Neoproterozoic Era, around 1 billion-541 million years ago, is deemed the warmest period.
What was the climate like in the Middle Ages?
In the Middle Ages, the climate was warmer than usual.
What may have caused the Medieval Warm Period?
Ocean circulation changes, reduced volcanic activities, and rise in solar radiation may have caused the Medieval Warm Period.
How warm was the Medieval Warm Period?
The average temperature during the Medieval Warm Period increased by around a couple of degrees.
What are the periods and ranges in temperature for the Little Ice Age and Medieval Warm Period?
The Medieval Warm Period lasted between the years c. 950-1250 and temperature increased about a couple of degrees above the usual, while Little Ice Age lasted roughly between the years 1300-1850, and mean temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere declined by 33.08 F (0.6 C).
What happened to the environment during the Medieval Warm Period?
As the climate became warmer, agriculture grew and there was a food surplus.
What was the temperature of the Medieval Warm Period compared to today?
The Medieval Warm Period was around 33.8 F (1 C) warmer than at present in Central Greenland.
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Joan AgieBachelor of Science specializing in Human Anatomy
With 3+ years of research and content writing experience across several niches, especially on education, technology, and business topics. Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Anatomy from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, and has worked as a researcher and writer for organizations across Nigeria, the US, the UK, and Germany. Joan enjoys meditation, watching movies, and learning new languages in her free time.
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