Maunder Minimum

The Maunder Minimum was a period from about 1645 to 1715 when sunspots, which are dark areas on the sun's surface caused by magnetic activity, were extremely rare. This coincided with the Little Ice Age, a time when Europe experienced cooler temperatures. Scientists believe the reduced sunspot activity may have contributed to these colder conditions. The Maunder Minimum is significant because it highlights the sun's influence on Earth's climate and helps researchers understand the complex interactions between solar activity and climate change.