Britain could have colder winters due to solar activity

Britain could have colder winters due to solar activity | Nature | News | Daily Express
BRITAIN could face colder than average winters with a plunge in solar activity threatening a new "little ice age" in the next few decades.
  Solar activity could cause Britain to have a 'little ice age'
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.
Long episodes of low solar activity were seen during the Maunder Minimum between 1645 and 1715 and the 'Dalton Minimum' from 1790 to 1830.
The latest study, published in Nature Communications, found reduced solar activity will lead to an overall cooling of the Earth of 0.1C.
A much bigger cooling effect is expected for Britain, northern Europe and North America where thermometers could drop by 0.8C...