Winter Is Coming: ‘Mini Ice Age’ Due To Hit Earth In 15 Years, Says Study

Earth could be heading for a ‘mini ice age’ within 15 years, scientists have warned.

A new model that tracks solar patterns predicts that the sun’s activity will drop by 60% during the 2030s, leading to a cold weather snap not experienced since the 18th Century.

The last time such weather was seen was when a phenomenon known as the Maunder Minimum plunged the Northern Hemipshere into a series of bitterly cold winters - also known as the ‘Little Ice Age’ - between 1645 and 1715, causing London’s River Thames to completely freeze over.

During the The Maunder Minimum, observers noted that solar activity was at a minimum.

Rather than a period of unremitting cold, the Little Ice Age consisted of many bitterly cold winters combined with some much milder ones.

It is thought that the dense wood used in the famous Stradivarius violins, violas and cellos was formed by slow tree growth during this cold period. Instrument maker Antonio Stradivari was born a year before the start of the Maunder Minimum.

According to NASA, it it highly likely that these tiny ‘ices ages’ have occurred before in the past.

It was 172 years ago that scientists first discovered that the sun’s activity varies over a cycle lasting 10 to 12 years. Until now experts have found it difficult to explain fluctuations in the cycle and predict what will happen next.

Speaking at last week’s National Astronomy Meeting in Wales, Professor Valentina Zharkova from Northumbria University unveiled the new model which predicted the incoming mini ice age using analysis of magnetic field activity.

(Image credit: Rex/Shutterstock)