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A cold snap in Greenland in the 12th century may help explain why Viking settlers vanished from the island, scientists claim. 科学家表示，格林兰岛在12世纪时出现了气温骤降的现象，这也许可以解释曾经居住在此的维京人为何会销声匿迹。 Researchers reconstructed temperatures by examining lake sediment cores in west Greenland dating back 5,600 years. 研究者通过对于格林兰岛以西的湖泊的沉积物进行检测，以追溯5600年前当地的气候状况。 Their findings indicated that earlier, pre-historic settlers also had to contend with vicious swings in climate on icy Greenland. 他们的发现表明，在早至史前时期，定居在此的人类不得不面对在冰天雪地的格林兰岛上变化无常的恶劣气候的挑战。 Average temperatures plunged 4C (7F) in just 80 years from about 1100. 研究发现，在1100年内的80年中，平均气温降低4摄氏度。 Such a shift is roughly the equivalent of the current average temperatures in Edinburgh tumbling to match those in Reykjavik, Iceland. It would have been a huge setback to crop and livestock production. 这样一种极端恶劣的气候的变化相当于从爱丁堡、苏格兰目前的平均气温，骤降到冰岛雷克雅维克的地区的气温，同时对于农业生产和牲畜的影响更是不言而喻。 Lead researcher Dr William D'Andrea, of Brown University, Rhode Island, said: 'Climate played (a) big role in Vikings' disappearance from Greenland. | 
