Dalton Minimum

The Dalton Minimum was a period of low solar activity that occurred roughly between 1790 and 1830, named after the English meteorologist John Dalton. During this time, sunspots were notably scarce, and it is often associated with the Little Ice Age, a time of cooler temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere. The Dalton Minimum is significant because it was characterized by a reduction in solar irradiance, which some studies suggest may have contributed to cooler climate conditions across Europe and North America.