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How did the Maunder Minimum overlap with cold conditions in Europe?

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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.

The Maunder Minimum, a period of significantly reduced sunspot activity between 1645 and 1715, coincided with the coldest phase of the Little Ice Age in the Northern Hemisphere.12

During this interval, Europe experienced severe climatic impacts, including:

Extreme Winters: The Thames River in England frequently froze over during winter months.1
Agricultural Disruption: Frequent cold winters and cool, wet summers led to widespread crop failures and famines across northern and central Europe.2
Glacial Advance: Glaciers in the Alps expanded significantly, destroying farms, churches, and villages.12

While some scientists argue that the reduced solar radiation associated with the Maunder Minimum contributed to this cooling, it is not considered the sole cause of the Little Ice Age. Other factors, such as changes in atmospheric circulation—specifically the North Atlantic Oscillation—and increased volcanism, are also believed to have played critical roles in driving these cold conditions.12