TPO 27 integrated writing task

The article states that an unusually cold temperature period was occurred during 1350 until 1900 CE, named the little ice age, and provides three reasons of supporting this phenomenon. However, the professor explains that these statement and researches are out of date and new information completely decline these reasons. The professor refutes each of the author's reasons.

First of all, the reading claims that the disruption of ocean currents due to an unusually warm weather period before the little ice age might cause this cooling period. This unusual warm period melted glaciers into oceans. Therefore, the large amount of fresh water caused by melting glaciers might disrupt the Gulf Stream. The professor refutes this opinion by saying that disruption of the Gulf Stream only caused in Europe and North America. But this phenomenon also was happened in the southern hemisphere, such as New Zealand and South America.

Secondly, the reading claims that the dark clouds which made by volcanic eruption may cause the little ice age period. These dark clouds can extend over many lands and prevent the sunlight and finally decrease the climate. However, the professor says that these clouds merely produced some striking visual effects like brown and grey snow or colorful sunset. But there were not strong enough to block sunlight and cause temperature decrease.

Third, the reading says that a huge decline in human population before the little ice age may cause this phenomenon indirectly. As the human population decline due to numerous reasons, such as war and disease, the harness of the trees being decreased. Therefore, the trees started growing in forest land increase that were no longer used for agriculture. While the trees absorb carbon dioxide, they caused the decrease in greenhouse effect that keeps earth warm. Finally, the climate became cooler. The professor opposes this point by explaining that as the human population's decrease was occurred in a short period of time and the human population was grown back soon, there was not enough time for this effect to change the climate.