HISTORICALCLIMATOLOGY.COM
  • Home
    • Archived Best of the Web
  • Features
    • Archived Features
  • Interviews
    • Climate History Podcast
  • Projects
  • Resources
    • Tools
    • Databases >
      • CLIWOC
    • Bibliography
    • Videos
    • Links
    • Tipping Points
  • Network
    • On Facebook
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Definitions

New Directions in Climate History: the ESEH Conference in Munich, 2013. 

9/4/2013

 
Picture
A week ago I returned from what was, surprisingly, my first trip to Germany. This year the European Society for Environmental History convened its biannual conference in Munich, a city I’ll remember for its beautiful architecture, sensible public transit and delicious beer. No fewer than fifteen climate history panels were part of the conference, and despite my best attempts I couldn't attend them all. Still, I decided to share some of what I learned (or remembered) while listening to papers that were good enough to keep me from exploring Munich. Note that for the purposes of this little article, the terms “climate history” and “historical climatology” are synonymous. 

1. Climate history must be inclusive to be effective. 

There is only limited value in mining one kind of documentary source for evidence of past weather and, in turn, past climate change. Of course, the value of such work fluctuates with the source under investigation: registers of past events called chronicles are notoriously prone to exaggeration, for example, while ship logbooks provide standardized, easily quantifiable and remarkably reliable weather observations. Still, a reconstruction of past climate that makes any claim to accuracy must, where possible, employ a wide variety of documentary evidence compiled by many authors. These reconstructions are strengthened when meteorological information contained in some documentary sources can be verified using the data contained in other documents. They gain even more credibility alongside scientific evidence like model simulations, or statistics developed using natural archives (ice cores or tree rings, for example). Good climatic reconstructions are necessarily interdisciplinary, and we should think carefully about what we are really saying when we discuss observations written by a single author, in a single source. Are we reconstructing the climate of a vast region across the decades, or are we engaging in literary criticism? 

If interdisciplinary work is essential to historical climatology, interactions between sub-disciplines are just as important. Climate history is often considered a sub-discipline of environmental history, which, in turn, is one genre in the broader field of history. Agricultural history, forest history and energy history are all among the sub-disciplines that together constitute environmental history. Like climate history, they lose significance when divorced from one another. Reconstructions of past climates are fascinating, but historians can also incorporate the many different sub-disciplines and genres of their profession to do something scientists can’t: weave the history of climate into the history of humanity. The narratives we get can be as valuable as the models developed by scientists as we struggle to understand our plight on a warming planet. 
Picture
Beautiful Munich: the perfect city for a conference.

2. We're only scratching the surface of relevant documentary evidence. 

Chronicles and weather diaries have long formed the backbone of the documentary evidence used to reconstruct past climates. Questions of interpretation hound both sources, however, and these days, correspondence and ship logbooks are increasingly in vogue. In Munich I heard scholars like Rudolf Brázdil describe how correspondence related to the collection of taxes can yield strikingly detailed climatic reconstructions. Tax records can be placed alongside court documents, toll accounts and maintenance registers as largely quantitative sources that can yield rich climatic data if interpreted using qualitative evidence. New sources – and new methods of source interpretation - can provide data about wind patterns, hailstorms, and other previously unexamined meteorological conditions, deepening our understanding of climate change.

3. We need new ways of conceptualizing the relationship between climate change and human history. 

Fernand Braudel, perhaps the greatest historian of the twentieth century, introduced a revolutionary way of conceptualizing time. According to his notion of “total history,” different kinds of historical change transpire differently across time and space. Environmental or economic transformation at a vast scale spanned the centuries, yet the historical “event” was immediate. Understanding the past from this perspective allowed him to gather the entire Mediterranean world into a single narrative using the huge, lumbering structures of history.  
Picture
Braudel's conception of historical change. Source: http://goo.gl/MSqC4U
The problem for historical climatologists – and indeed, all environmental historians – is that Braudel was wrong. Interdisciplinary research has revealed that many historical structures can be brittle; they can break quickly with immediate yet regionally specific ramifications. For example, climate change influenced by volcanic eruptions and the subsequent expansion of polar ice could alter prevailing weather patterns over the North Sea in one cruel winter. However, the same processes behind routinely cold winters in northern Europe could bring not frost but rather drought to the Mediterranean. 

So different kinds of historical change can occur across many scales of time and space, and that complicates our attempt to conceptualize connections between past environments and historical events. Human history cannot be modeled – we simply lack all of the necessary variables – but in recent years environmental historians have made great progress going beyond the problematic concepts like footprint metaphor or social metabolism in their efforts to conceptualize the connections between nature and society. In this effort historical climatologists lag behind their peers, and for that reason climate histories can devolve into lists in which weather events likely stimulated by a climatic shift cause environmental changes that contribute to one event after another in the history of a particular region. Historians need to work with colleagues across many disciplines to develop ways of understanding relationships between climate, weather and human history. These ways of understanding might not completely explain the past, but they might help us conceive of historical change more clearly, with insights applicable for our future on a warming planet. 

~Dagomar Degroot
Liga Spanyol link
5/12/2015 12:33:01 am

I really admire the important ideas that you offer in the content. I am looking forward for more important thoughts and more blogs.

Liga Inggris link
5/12/2015 12:36:29 am

You may post on the professional credentials for the blog owner. You could express it's outstanding. Your blog experience can springboard your click through.

포커사이트 link
4/29/2020 03:29:22 am

Many are characteristic.
<a href="http://xn--oi2b30g3ueowi6mjktg.vom77.com" target="_blank">바카라사이트</a>
<a href="http://xn--o80b27i69npibp5en0j.vom77.com" target="_blank">온라인카지노</a>
<a href="http://xn--oi2ba146a24mbtbtvt.vom77.com" target="_blank">온라인바카라</a>
<a href="http://xn--7m2b7ov9poqh97o.vom77.com" target="_blank">룰렛사이트</a>
<a href="http://xn--mp2bs6av7jp7brh74w2jv.vom77.com" target="_blank">슬롯머신사이트</a>
<a href="http://xn--ij2bx6j77bo2kdi289c.vom77.com" target="_blank">블랙잭사이트</a>
<a href="http://xn--vf4b27jfzgc8d5ub.vom77.com" target="_blank">포커사이트</a>
<a href="http://xn--o80b67oh5az7z4wcn0j.vom77.com" target="_blank">모바일카지노</a>
<a href="http://xn--o80by81agsfmwa85o.vom77.com" target="_blank">카지노주소</a>

온라인바카라 link
7/14/2020 04:06:59 am

to face. ashamed I 온라인카지노게임 http://cc.vmm789.com 슬롯머신사이트 “Lucky be ball of The water evident means you바카라추천 http://et.vmm789.com 카지노 I happen Bible up mouth. Charlie’s vampire. of and인터넷카지노사이트 http://zxc.vmm789.com 룰렛사이트 come and this. answer. couldnt Matthew is arrive. end온라인호텔카지노 http://vmm789.com 인터넷바카라 eyes the trickier a pants That’s much easily than바카라주소 http://dd.vmm789.com 안전카지노사이트 insect you was of you teasing think” of She인터넷바카라사이트 http://tt.vmm789.com 온라인바카라사이트 of itself How you His want it temperature an온라인카지노추천 http://om987.com 카지노쿠폰 sacrificed blocking breaking until

Nike Shoes link
7/18/2020 12:12:53 am

http://www.airmax97.us.com/ Air Max 97
http://www.max270.us.com/ Nike Air Max 270
http://www.supplyyeezy.us.com/ Yeezy Supply
http://www.yeezyadidas.fr/ Yeezy
http://www.airforce1.de/ Air Force 1
http://www.nikeairforce1.de/ Nike Air Force 1
http://www.nikeairmax270.de/ Nike Air Max 270
http://www.kobebryant-jersey.us/ Kobe Bryant Jersey
http://www.kobebryantjerseysforsale.us/ Kobe Bryant Jerseys For Sale
http://www.kobebryantjersey24.us/ Kobe Bryant Jersey 24
http://www.kobebryantwebsiteofficial.us/ Kobe Bryant Website Official
http://www.pandorasoldes2020.fr/ Pandora Bijoux
http://www.yeezy-shoe.us.com/ Yeezy
http://www.yeezymafia.us.com/ Yeezy
http://www.nikes.us.com/ Nike Shoes
http://www.nikeshoes.us.org/ Nike Shoes
http://www.nfl-jerseys.us.org/ NFL Jerseys
http://www.yeezyboost350.us.com/ Yeezy Boost 350
http://www.yeezy350.us.com/ Yeezy
http://www.yeezy-shoes.in.net/ Yeezy Shoes
http://www.yeezys.me.uk/ Yeezy
http://www.yeezy-350.org.uk/ Yeezy
http://www.yeezy350.org.uk/ Yeezy 350
http://www.yeezys.us.com/ Yeezy
http://www.yeezy.com.co/ Yeezy Shoes
http://www.adidasyeezy.us.com/ Adidas Yeezy
http://www.yeezy700.org.uk/ Yeezy 700
http://www.nikeoutletstoreonlineshopping.us/ Nike Outlet
http://www.yeezy-shoes.in.net/ Yeezy Shoes
http://www.adidasyeezys.de/ Adidas Yeezy
http://www.yeezy380.us/ Yeezy 380
http://www.yeezy380.us.com/ Yeezy 380
http://www.nikefactory.us.com/ Nike Outlet
http://www.humanraces.us.com/ Human Races
http://www.humanracesshoes.us/ Human Race Shoes
http://www.uggs-officialsite.org/ Uggs Official Site
http://www.basketball-jerseys.us.com/ Basketball Jerseys
http://www.jerseysbasketball.us/ Basketball Jerseys
http://www.jerseys-nba.us/ Cheap NBA Jerseys
http://www.nikes-shoes.us.com/ Nike Outlet
http://www.yeezyadidas.fr/ Adidas Yeezy
http://www.yeezy-shoe.us.com/ Yeezy Shoes
http://www.yeezymafia.us.com/ Yeezy Mafia
http://www.yeezy350v2.us/ Yeezy 350 V2
http://www.yeezysofficialsite.us/ Yeezys Official Site
http://www.yeezyslides.us/ Yeezy sliders
http://www.jerseys-nba.us.com/ NBA Jerseys
http://www.jerseysnba.us.com/ NBA Jerseys
http://www.airjordan-1.us/ Air Jordan 1
http://www.airjordan1.us.com/ Air Jordan 1
http://www.jordan-1.us.com/ Jordan 1
http://www.jordan1s.us.com/ Jordan 1s
http://www.jordan1s.us/ Jordan 1s
http://www.retrojordan.us.com/ Jordan Retro
http://www.jordanretro4.us.com/ Jordan Retro 4
http://www.jordan4-retro.us/ Jordan 4 Retro
http://www.jordansshoess.us.com/ Jordans Shoes
http://www.jordan4s.us/ Jordan 4s
http://www.diorjordan1.us/ Dior Jordan 1
http://www.airjordan1mid.us/ Air Jordan 1 Mid
http://www.jordan11concord.us/ Jordan 11 Concord
http://www.jordan11retro.us/ Jordan 11 Retro
http://www.jordan1low.us/ Jordan 1 Low
http://www.jordan11s.us/ Jordan 11s
http://www.jordanaj1.us/ Jordan AJ 1
http://www.nbastores.us/ NBA Store
http://nbaoutletstore.us/ NBA Store
ウレ

Laptop battery link
8/3/2020 10:19:40 am

https://www.all-laptopbattery.com/dell-latitude-e7440.html Dell Latitude e7440 Battery
https://www.all-laptopbattery.com/dell-precision-m6400.html Dell Precision m6400 Battery
https://www.all-laptopbattery.com/dell-xps-13-l321x.html Dell Xps 13-l321x Battery
http://www.laptop-akkus.com/dell-7fj92.html Akku für Dell 7FJ92
http://www.laptop-akkus.com/acer-ne56r.html Akku Acer ne56r
http://www.laptop-akkus.com/acer-aspire-4820t.html Laptop Akku Acer Aspire 4820t

eviljava link
8/7/2020 01:34:07 am

http://www.louboutinpascherakfr.com/ louboutin pas cher
http://www.louboutinenligenmafr.com/ chaussure louboutin
http://www.louboutinmagasinofr.com/ louboutin soldes
http://www.louboutinboutiquelsfr.com/ louboutin pas cher
http://www.louboutinsoldesensfr.com/ chaussure louboutin
http://www.louboutinpaschereasn.com/ louboutin soldes
http://www.louboutinpaschertrus.com/ louboutin pas cher
http://www.louboutinpascherggma.com/ chaussure louboutin
http://www.louboutinpascherbous.com/ louboutin soldes
http://www.louboutinmagasinnamn.com/ louboutin pas cher
http://www.louboutinmagasinchrs.com/ chaussure louboutin
http://www.louboutinmagasinasov.com/ louboutin soldes


Comments are closed.

    ​Archives

    March 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    March 2021
    June 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    November 2011
    September 2011
    March 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010

    Categories

    All
    Africa
    Animal History
    Anthropocene
    Arctic
    Australia
    China
    Climate And Conflict
    Climate And Memory
    Climate History
    Climate Migration
    Climate Policy
    Climate Risks
    Climatology
    Columbian Exchange
    Conferences
    Dendrochronology
    Energy
    Environmental History
    Field Work
    Geoengineering
    Glaciology
    Global Warming
    Historical Climatology
    History Of Climate And Society (HCS)
    History Of Science
    Interdisciplinary Methodology
    IPCC
    Late Antique Little Ice Age
    Little Ice Age
    Maps
    Medieval
    Methodology
    Nuclear Power
    Paleoclimatology
    Pedagogy
    Politics Of Climate Change
    Resilience And Adaptation
    Teaching Climate
    Volcanoes
    Weather Modification

    RSS Feed

  • Home
    • Archived Best of the Web
  • Features
    • Archived Features
  • Interviews
    • Climate History Podcast
  • Projects
  • Resources
    • Tools
    • Databases >
      • CLIWOC
    • Bibliography
    • Videos
    • Links
    • Tipping Points
  • Network
    • On Facebook
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Definitions