BBC Focus Magazine

[Jamie]

The Little Ice Age was caused by the cooling effect of massive volcanic eruptions, and sustained by changes in Arctic ice cover, scientists conclude.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16797075

[M Paul Lloyd]

An interesting idea.... although I'm left wondering if the 'international research team' that carried out this study have come across this work by Flakkarin??
can-increased-volcanism-trigger-the-onset-of-glaciations-t566.html

[Flakkarin]

Haha actually I know all the researchers, I met them and the beginning of this research back in 2009. This is the kind of project I really wanted to be working on when I took on my PhD... but I ended up doing crazy things with the chemistry of volcanic ash and Bayesian statistical analyses of sets of carbon dates. That's the way it goes!
But the research is very cool; the plants re-appearing from under Little Ice Age glaciers is really innovative. I'll never forget Giff Miller talking about flying around in helicopters in the Canadian Arctic just looking for the melting edges of little glaciers - landing for a little while to collect - and choppering off again!

I'd say this study is very good... but I am a little bias