Processos de mudança climática durante a “Pequena Idade do Gelo” sob o enfoque de Ciência do Sistema Terra

Abstract

There are uncertainties about the exact length of the “Little Ice Age” between the 16th and 19th centuries. There was intense cooling in different regions of the Northern Hemisphere and some global effects such as polar ice cap expansion, reduced average temperatures in summer and increased precipitation in winter. Motivated by the didactic interest of the theme, this review sought to recompose scientific knowledge and debate on hypotheses, models of Holocene climate evolution and interpretations of possible causes. We study the mechanisms that condition abrupt climate change. Despite the divergence among climatologists about the dating of glacial records, we draw converging points that outline a systemic view of the determining factors of global climate today.