Final answer:
The Little Ice Age is a brief return to near-glacial conditions during the transition period from the last glacial period to the present interglacial period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The brief return to near-glacial conditions during the transition period from the last glacial period to the present interglacial period is known as the Little Ice Age. It occurred between 1550 AD and 1850 AD, with a slight cooling of a little less than 1 °C observed in North America, Europe, and possibly other parts of the Earth. This period of unusually cold weather led to significant variations in normal rainfall and a general drop in the mean annual temperature.