In order to understand how climate may vary in the future--whether as a result of human activities or of natural fluctuations--we must first understand how and why it has varied in the past. The period since A. D. 1500 is of particular interest, encompassing as it did not only the 'Little Ice Age', but also unusual solar activity and several exceptionally large explosive volcanic eruptions. Climate Since A. D. 1500 discusses the many diverse records of climatic variations that are available for the last 500 years. An introductory chapter provides an explanation of the methods used in the chapters which follow, and a final chapter summarizes data from all the various records. Factors which are potentially important in causing climatic changes are also discussed. The result is a new perspective on the so-called 'Little Ice Age' and also on the climate of the twentieth century. The editors have gathered together over fifty contributors from all over the world to provide as wide a geographical dimension as possible. All leading scientists in their fields, they present climatic and meteorological records of climatic variations available for the last 500 years, including research from several areas not previously recorded in an English language volume. These include long instrumental records, historical documents, dendroclimatic data and ice core records from all over the world including Antarctica, North and South America, North Africa, the Soviet Union, the Far East and Australasia.