  The Little Ice Age in Europe (between about 1350 and 1850) marked the largest
glacier extent over the entire Holocene period. Although several authors have
investigated the causes of the substantial glacier advances in the mid-19th
century and the rapid retreat following this phase, a conclusive insight
linking all relevant components is still lacking. The so-called "Paradox of the
Little Ice Age" refers to the yet unsolved problem why glaciers in the Alps
experienced rapid growth around 1850 and subsequent decline despite air
temperatures remaining at a low level until 1920. Here, we propose a simple
model to explain glacier advance and retreat during the maximum of the Little
Ice Age with the primary climatological drivers: air temperature and
precipitation variations, changes in solar irradiation and glacier-surface
albedo effects. These forcing mechanisms allow attributing the causes of
glacier change, and, hence, enhancing our understanding of past and future
glacier response.
