TPO 27The little ice age was a period of unusually cold temperature in many parts of the world that lasted from about the year 1350 until 1900CE There were unusually harsh winters and glaciers grew larger in many areas Scientist have long wondered what

The reading and the lecture are both about the Little Ice Age, which happened many years ago. While the author of the reading presents three probable reasons for this phenomenon, the professor disputes all these reasons. He states that all these reasons are out of date, and new research shows that non of these reasons account for the Little Ice Age.

In the reading passage, the writer begins by saying that the disruption of ocean currents may have been a contributing factor to this event. However, the lecturer disagrees with this idea. He states that disruption in the Gulf Stream current could be responsible for the temperature decline in some northern areas, such as Europe and North America. Still, these currents never reached the southern regions. Therefore, this reason cannot explain why temperature declined in southern areas.

Furthermore, according to the text, volcanic eruption and dust and gases released into the atmosphere due to volcanic activities is another reason for the Little Ice Age. On the other hand, the professor points out that these activities are usually coupled with striking visual events, for instance, white and grey snow. He continues that although volcanic activities may form dust clouds and reduce the temperature, no visual incidents were reported during this period.

Finally, the author believes that a significant decrease in human population and the substitution of agricultural fields for forests may have accounted for this phenomenon. Not surprisingly, the professor refutes this assertion by contending that period between the decrease in human population and its revival was so short that there was not enough time for this event to work effectively. Soon the forests were cut off and replaced by agricultural fields because humans wanted to cultivate crops to feed the growing population.

To sum up, both the author and the lecturer hold conflicting views on the reasons that lead to happening of the Little Ice Age.