New perspectives on historical climatology. (7th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: White, Sam; Pei, Qing; Kleemann, Katrin; Dolák, Lukáš; Huhtamaa, Heli; Camenisch, Chantal
• Is Part Of: Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Volume 14:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-12-07
• Subjects: climate history -- historical climatology -- methodology; Climatic changes -- Periodicals; Climatic changes; Periodicals; 363.7387405
• DOI: 10.1002/wcc.808
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-7780

Abstract

Abstract: Historical climatology is an interdisciplinary field of research encompassing the reconstruction of past climate and weather from written sources and artifacts, as well the application of climate reconstructions to the study of human history. Historical climatology has grown in recent years, and this growth has brought both insights and challenges. Research has expanded into new regions and periods and diversified into novel sources, methods, and interdisciplinary collaborations. At the same time, the heterogeneity of evidence and approaches has complicated the integration of multiple climate and weather reconstructions. Moreover, the diversity of disciplinary perspectives, terminologies, and perspectives can create miscommunication among scholars in the field, particularly on issues of historical knowledge and causation. Innovative approaches in the field, including Bayesian methods, may help address these challenges. This article is categorized under: Climate, History, Society, Culture > Disciplinary Perspectives Climate, History, Society, Culture > World Historical Perspectives Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Representing Uncertainty The Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Knowledge and Practice Abstract : The first display at the Klimahuset of the Oslo Museum of Natural History presents a timeline of historical events within the growth rings of an old tree. It illustrates the overlay of human and natural histories and of written and physical evidence in simple but compelling fashion. Historical climatology draws on both archives of societies and archives of nature to reconstruct past climates and analyze their historical influence. This integration of diverse evidence and perspectives has proven both insightful and challenging (Photo by Sam White 2022).