In 536 the sun began to shine less than the moon. The small ice age began then began

The year 536 is sometimes called “The worst in history”, But this year only marked the beginning of a small ice age. An era of about 15 years in which sunlight was almost unable to reach the surface of the earth.

Small ice age. For years it has been discussed what happened in the year 536 that triggered the “small ice age of late antiquity” (Lalia) that lasted until the 550s. The volcanic eruptions of this year and 541 or comet dust had been considered as possible causes, but we had A third hypothesis: An unknown underwater eruption.

From historiography to the rings of the trees. From this era of darkness we have record through different sources: some historiographic, such as medieval texts in which there is talk of a sunlight so faint that it barely stood out about that of the moon. Others, more “modern”, such as the analysis of Tree rings. These rings appear as a result of the oscillations in their growth rate, a consequence of the succession of the seasons of the year and factors associated with it, such as the abundance of water.

Or the hours of light.

The suspects. And the hours of light were not abundant at this time. The cause of this long winter of 15 years would have been in a denser atmosphere full of dust or gas that would have prevented solar radiation from reaching the northern hemisphere. However, we are not sure what our atmosphere overshadowed. Volcanic activity has been the main suspect in the case. We know that the most powerful volcanoes can expel gases in such quantity that they can alter the terrestrial climate, usually for short periods of time.

During this decade and a half we had proof of three volcanic eruptions, a “cataclysmic” eruption in 536, caused by a volcano in Iceland; and two others also relevant in 540 and 547. However, there are experts who consider that these three eruptions were not the cause of this small ice age, something else was needed.

Submarine volcano. And that “something” could have been an underwater volcano. Is The hypothesis defended by an American team of researchers composed of Dallas Abbott and John Barron. They reached this conclusion when studying Greenland ice samples in which remains of marine microorganisms of tropical waters were found.

According to this hypothesis, underwater rashes would have led to the atmosphere not only the gases of these events but also remains of sediments and marine life. An underwater eruption would also have vaporized a large amount of water that would have passed to the atmosphere.

Huge consequences. All this would have had severe socio -economic consequences. Historical records speak of years in which cereal crops did not even allow bread, or snowfall in full summer. Towards the year 541 the so -called “Plaga de Justiniano” began in Egypt First epidemic Black plague of the Middle Ages. In the Iberian Peninsula this period of darkness could have unleashed The first of the crises that would end up resulting in the fall of the Visigothic kingdom and the Muslim conquer.

Image | NOAA/National Science Foundation

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