Britain faces FREEZING winters as slump in solar activity threatens 'little Ice Age.'
BRITAIN could face colder than average winters with a plunge in solar activity threatening a new "little ice age" in the next few decades.
Climate experts warn the amount of light and warmth released by the sun
is nosediving to levels "not seen for centuries".
They fear a repeat of the so-called 'Maunder Minimum' which triggered
Arctic winter whiteouts and led to the River Thames freezing 300 years
ago.
The Met Office-led study warns although the effect will be offset by
recent global warming, Britain faces years of unusually cold
winters.
A spokesman said: "A return to low solar activity not seen for centuries
could increase the chances of cold winters in Europe and eastern parts of the
United States but wouldn't halt global warming.
"Return of 'grand solar minimum' could affect European and eastern US
winters."
Long episodes of low solar activity were seen during the Maunder Minimum
between 1645 and 1715 and the 'Dalton Minimum' from 1790 to
1830.
