Historical Climatology In Europe – The State Of The Art

Authors: BráZdil, Rudolf¹; Pfister, Christian²; Wanner, Heinz³; Storch, Hans⁴; Luterbacher, JüRg³

Source: Climatic Change, Volume 70, Number 3, June 2005 , pp. 363-430(68)

Publisher: Springer

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $47.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

This paper discusses the state of European research in historical climatology. This field of science and an overview of its development are described in detail. Special attention is given to the documentary evidence used for data sources, including its drawbacks and advantages. Further, methods and significant results of historical-climatological research, mainly achieved since 1990, are presented. The main focus concentrates on data, methods, definitions of the “Medieval Warm Period” and the “Little Ice Age”, synoptic interpretation of past climates, climatic anomalies and natural disasters, and the vulnerability of economies and societies to climate as well as images and social representations of past weather and climate. The potential of historical climatology for climate modelling research is discussed briefly. Research perspectives in historical climatology are formulated with reference to data, methods, interdisciplinarity and impacts.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10584-005-5924-1

Affiliations: 1: Institute of Geography, Masaryk University, Kotlá rcaron ská 2, CZ-611 37 Brno, The Czech Republic, Email: brazdil@sci.muni.cz ská 2, CZ-611 37 Brno, The Czech Republic, Email: brazdil@sci.muni.cz "> 2: Institute of History/NCCR Climate, University of Bern, Unitobler, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland, 3: NCCR Climate, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland, 4: GKSS-Research-Center, Max Planck Strasse 1, D-21502 Geesthacht, Germany,