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How did increased sea ice affect Iceland during the Little Ice Age?

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Line graph showing estimated temperature variations from 1000 to 2000 CE for the Northern Hemisphere and central England, with three lines representing different data sources. The chart highlights the medieval warm period around 1100-1300 and the Little Ice Age from about 1500 to 1850, followed by a sharp temperature rise in the late 20th century. Temperature is shown as deviations from the 1961-1990 average. — Little Ice Age Estimates of temperature variations for the Northern Hemisphere and central England from 1000 to 2000 ce.

During the Little Ice Age, the expansion of sea ice significantly impacted Iceland by increasing its isolation from Scandinavia.12

As the southern limit of sea ice expanded, it began to encapsulate the island, locking it in ice for progressively longer durations throughout the year. While there was zero average sea ice coverage before 1200, this increased to eight weeks by the 13th century and reached 40 weeks by the 19th century. This environmental shift hindered maritime travel and communication, effectively cutting off the island from its traditional trade and cultural connections in the North Atlantic region.12