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In the reading passage, there is ample support for the author's claim that decl

ining temperature of the Earth from 14th century to 19th century


could have been triggered by three factors, such as amount of sunspots, volcanic
eruption and the level of reflectivity. However, the professor
gives several reasons as a rebuttal to the author's point.
First, the professor contends that there is no relation between the number of s
unspots and solar energy. Basically, experts concede that sunspots are
sporadically turned out by the sun's changing activity. But they discovered that
the number of sunspots was consistent despite diminishing solar activity.
This casts doubt on the reading passage's claim that sunspots might have affecte
d solar radiation and the temperature of the Earth in succession.
Next, the professor insists that it is unlikely that volcanic activity would no
t have triggered the emergence of Little Ice Age. Though the gigantic
eruption of Mt.Rinjani occured in 13th century, dust and ash made by the volcano
would not have last for long period. Since the cool temperature was
prevalent globally until 19th century, short term period of volcanic activity ca
nnot substantiate if it was related to global climate in the past.
This counters the reading passage's assertion that volcanic eruption deterred th
e solar radiation from intruding to the Earth's surface.
Finally, the professor argues that there is no way that reflected sunlight by g
laciers and snowy ground caused reducing global temperature.
In spite of mass production of glaciers and snow due to cold winter, these were
the only parts of various factors. At that time, overall amount of
cloud was fairly decreasing because of the interaction between ocean evaporation
and the production of clouds. As a result, the sum of reflectivity
rather had become less before Little Ice Age. This refutes the reading passage's
suggestion that high reflectivity caused by cold winter decreased
the global temperature.

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