Argument47

Tomas007UID: 2107663

TOPIC: ARGUMENT47 - Scientists studying historical weather patterns have discovered that in the mid-sixth century, Earth suddenly became significantly cooler. Although few historical records survive from that time, some accounts found both in Asia and Europe mention a dimming of the sun and extremely cold temperatures. Either a huge volcanic eruption or a large meteorite colliding with Earth could have created a large dust cloud throughout Earth's atmosphere that would have been capable of blocking enough sunlight to lower global temperatures significantly. A large meteorite collision, however, would probably create a sudden bright flash of light, and no extant historical records of the time mention such a flash. Some surviving Asian historical records of the time, however, mention a loud boom that would be consistent with a volcanic eruption. Therefore, the cooling was probably caused by a volcanic eruption.
WORDS: 345          TIME: 0:30:00          DATE: 2006-8-1

The argument is well present but not so well-reasoned. The cause of cooling was hasty concluded as a volcanic eruption merely due to the lack of historical records on flash and a historical record on a loud boom.

There is no direct evidence supporting that the supposed volcanic eruption did happen that time and caused the serious temperatures decline. Although there is a historical record mention a loud boom that time, it is doubted whether the boom was caused by a volcanic eruption. It is possible that a flash in rainy day may result in a loud boom. Perhaps a natural gas explosion could provoke the similar loud boom.

However, even if there indeed existed a volcanic eruption at that time, no records could assure its such great power that could decrease the world temperature significantly. Such a great volcanic eruption should result in a large amount of dust and abnormal weather with a long period. However, there is only one record mentioning the loud boom but no other thing about those dusty and bad weather. Therefore, such volcanic eruption might be a tiny one and its consequences is limited in a small distinct. Such eruption could not affect the whole world weather at all.

Furthermore, the argument is failing to consider other factors that may impact the world weather. Although there is no extant historical records mentioning a flash, it does not the absence of such kind of large meteorite collision. It is probable that the collision has been recorded but the record is still buried underground. There is also such possibility that such collision was so huge that no viewer is able to survive until the records were made. Additionally, there is also some factors that may caused the sudden temperature decline, such as the great ashes and dust caused by a large forest fire.

In sum, the argument failed to consider the essential evidence supporting the existence of such loud boom, and other events that may also cause the temperature decrease. Before the final conclusion, the aspects mentioned above should be considered.