A new study has shed light on the UK's medieval past, revealing that Britain may have been warmer around 1,000 years ago than it is today. Researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics examined climate data from the past millennium and concluded that a Medieval Warm Period, spanning approximately 800 to 1300 AD, was not just confined to Europe but occurred globally.
The study's lead astronomer, Dr Willie Soon, explained their methodology: "We assembled a series of clues – including glacier movements, ice core analysis, coral growth patterns and tree ring data – to reconstruct past climate conditions." The comprehensive review scrutinised 240 existing studies, which showed that the 20th century was not the warmest or most extreme period of the last millennium.
Historical records from this era in Britain support the findings. The Domesday Book lists 45 vineyards as far north as York, suggesting a significantly warmer climate than today. Meanwhile, Viking colonisation and farming in Greenland during this period provide additional global evidence of elevated temperatures.
The study also confirms the existence of the 'Little Ice Age,' a cold period from around 1300 to 1900 AD. This era saw the River Thames freeze over regularly, leading to famous 'frost fairs,' and even brought polar bears to Iceland – illustrating a stark shift in global temperatures following the Medieval Warm Period.
The research provides a valuable historical context to climate fluctuations and adds to the body of work aiming to understand long-term climate patterns. While the study's findings are intriguing, it's worth noting that their peer-review status is not explicitly stated, although their collaboration with climate scientists suggests a rigorous approach.