Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Unusual Climate in Northwest Europe During the Period 1730 to 1745 Based on Instrumental and Documentary Data

  • Published:
Climatic Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study focuses on one of the most interesting times of the early instrumental period in northwest Europe (from 1730–1745) attempting to place the extremely cold year of 1740 and the unusual warmth of the 1730s decade in a longer context. The similarity of the features in the few long (and independent) instrumental records together with extensive documentary evidence clearly indicates that remarkable climatic changes occurred rapidly in this period. We use unpublished subjective circulation charts developed by the late Hubert Lamb, to assist in understanding the course of events, particularly during the extreme year of 1740 and the four subsequent years. We also compare these subjective charts with others recently developed using more objective modern reconstruction techniques. Apart from evidence of a reduction in the number of explosive volcanic eruptions following the 1690s, it is difficult to explain the changes in terms of our knowledge of the possible factors that have influenced this region during the 19th and 20th centuries. The study, therefore, highlights how estimates of natural climatic variability in this region based on more recent data may not fully encompass the possible known range.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bergström, H. and Moberg, A.: 2002, ‘Daily air temperature and pressure series for Uppsala (1722–1998)’, Climatic Change 53, 213–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beveridge, W. H.: 1922, ‘Wheat prices and rainfall’, J. Roy. Stat. Soc. 85, 418–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brázdil, R., Pfister, C., Wanner, H., von Storch, H., and Luterbacher, J.: 2006, ‘Historical climatology in Europe – The state of the art’, Climatic Change (in press).

  • Craddock, J. M.: 1976, ‘Annual rainfall in England since 1725’, Q. J. Roy. Met. Soc. 102, 823–840.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, D.: 1997, Arctic Ireland: The Extraordinary Story of the Great Frost and Forgotten Famine of 1740–1741, Whiterow Press, Belfast, p. 94.

  • Eklund, A.: 1999, ‘Long observation series of ice freeze and break-up dates in Swedish lakes. Paper presented at the 12th Northern Research Basins Symposium and Workshop’, Reykjavik, Kirjubaejarklaustur and Hofn, Hornafjordur, Iceland, August 23–27, 1999.

  • Glaser, R.: 2001, Klimageschichte Mitteleuropas. 1000 Jahr Wetter, Klima, Katastrophen. Primus Verlag, Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt, p. 227.

  • Gregory, J. M., Jones, P. D. and Wigley, T. M. L.: 1991, ‘Precipitation in Britain: An analysis of area-average data updated to 1989’, Int. J. Climatol. 11, 331–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurrell, J. W.: 1995, ‘Decadal trends in the North Atlantic Oscillation: Regional temperatures and precipitation’, Science 269, 676–679.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurrell, J. W.: 1996, ‘Influence of variations in extratropical wintertime teleconnections on Northern Hemisphere temperature’, Geophys. Res. Letts. 23, 665–668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobeit, J., Wanner, H., Koslowski, G. and Gudd, M.: 1999, ‘European surface pressure patterns for months with outstanding climatic anomalies during the sixteenth century’, Climatic Change 43, 201–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jevrejeva, S.: 2001, ‘Severity of winter seasons in the northern Baltic Sea between 1529 and 1990: Reconstructions and analysis’, Climate Research 17, 55–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, P. D.: 1999, ‘Classics in physical geography revisited – Gordon Manley's CET series’, Prog. Phys. Geog. 23, 425–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, P. D. and Conway, D.: 1997, ‘Precipitation in the British Isles: An analysis of area-average data updated to 1995’, Int. J. Climatol. 17, 427–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, P. D. and Hulme, M.: 1997, ‘The changing temperature of Central England’, in Hulme, M. and Barrow, E. (eds.), Climates of the British Isles: Present, Past and Future Routledge, London, 173–196.

  • Jones, P. D., Jónsson, T. and Wheeler, D.: 1997, ‘Extension to the North Atlantic Oscillation using early instrumental pressure observations from Gibraltar and SW Iceland’, Int. J. Climatol. 17, 1433–1450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, P. D., Davies, T. D., Lister, D. H., Slonosky, V., Jónsson, T., Bärring, L., Jönsson, P., Maheras, P., Kolyva-Machera, F., Barriendos, M., Martin-Vide, J., Rodriguez, R., Alcoforado, M. J., Wanner, H., Pfister, C., Luterbacher, J., Rickli, R., Schuepbach, E., Kaas, E., Schmith, T., Jacobeit, J. and Beck, C.: 1999, ‘Monthly mean pressure reconstructions for Europe for the 1780–1995 period’, Int. J. Climatol. 19, 347–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, P. D., Moberg, A., Osborn, T. J. and Briffa, K. R.: 2003, ‘Surface climate responses to explosive volcanic eruptions seen in long European temperature records and mid-to-high latitude tree-ring density around the Northern Hemisphere’, in Robock, A. and Oppenheimer, C. (eds.), Volcanism and the Earth's Atmosphere, American Geophysical Union, Washington D.C. 239–254.

  • Klingbjer, P. and Moberg, A.: 2003, ‘A composite monthly temperature record from Tornedalen in northern Sweden’, 1802–2002, Int. J. Climatol. 23, 1465–1494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koslowski, G. and Glaser, R.: 1999, ‘Variations in reconstructed ice winter severity in the western Baltic from 1501 to 1995 and their implications for the North Atlantic Oscillation’, Climatic Change 41, 175–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, H. H.: 1977, Climate, present, past and future. Vol. 2: Climate history and the future, Methuen, London, p. 835.

  • Lamb, H. H.: 1982, Climate History and the Modern World, Methuen, London, p. 433.

  • Lamb, H. H. and Johnson, A. I.: 1966, ‘Secular variations of the atmospheric circulation since 1750’, Geophys. Mem. 110, Meteorological Office, London, p. 125.

  • Luterbacher, J., Xoplaki, E., Dietrich, D., Jones, P. D., Davies, T. D., Portis, D., Gonzalez-Rouco, J. F., von Storch, H., Gyalistras, D., Casty, D. and Wanner, H.: 2002a, ‘Extending North Atlantic Oscillation reconstructions back to 1500’, Atmospheric Science Letters 2, 114–124 (doi:10.1006/asle.2001.0044).

  • Luterbacher, J., Xoplaki, E., Dietrich, D., Rickli, R., Jacobeit, J., Beck, C., Gyalistras, D., Schmutz, C. and Wanner, H.: 2002b, Reconstruction of sea level pressure fields over the eastern North Atlantic and Europe back to 1500’, Climate Dynamics 18, 545–561.

  • Luterbacher, J., Dietrich, D., Xoplaki, E., Grosjean, M. and Wanner, H.: 2004, ‘European seasonal and annual temperature variability, trends and extremes since 1500’, Science 303, 1499–1503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manley, G.: 1958, ‘The Great Winter of 1740’, Weather 14, 11–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manley, G.: 1974, ‘Central England temperatures: Monthly means 1659 to 1973’, Q. J. Roy. Met. Soc. 100, 389–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moberg, A. and Bergström, H.: 1997, ‘Homogenization of Swedish temperature data. Part III: The long temperature records from Uppsala and Stockholm’, Int. J. Climatol. 17, 667–699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moberg, A., Tuomenvirta, H. and Nordli, Ø.: 2005, ‘Recent Climatic Trends’, in Seppälä, M. (ed.), Geography of Fennoscandia, Oxford University Press pp113-134.

  • Nicholas, F. J. and Glasspoole, J.: 1931, ‘General monthly rainfall over England and Wales, 1727 to 1931’, British Rainfall 1931, 299–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, D. E., Legg, T. P. and Folland, C. K.: 1992, ‘A new daily Central England temperature series, 1772–1991’, Int. J. Climatol. 12, 317–342.

  • Pfister, C.: 1992, ‘Monthly temperature and precipitation in central Europe 1525–1979: Quantifying documentary evidence on weather and its effects’, in Bradley, R. S. and Jones, P. D. (ed.), Climate Since A.D. 1500, pp. 118–142, Routledge, London.

  • Pfsiter, C.: 1999, Wetternachersage. 500 Jahre Klimavariationen und Naturkatastrophen (1496–1995, Verlag Paul Haupt, Bern, 304 pp.

  • Przybylak, R., Majorowicz, J., Wójcik, G., Zielski, A., Chorazyczewski, W., Marciniak, K., Nowosad, W., OliÓski, P. and Syta, K.: 2005, ‘Temperature changes in Poland from the 16th to the 20th centuries’, Int J. Climatol. 25, 773–791.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rácz, I.: 1999, Climate History of Hungary since the 16th century: Past, Present and Future, Pál, Pécs, p. 160.

  • Robinson, P.: 2005, ‘Ice and snow in paintings of Little Ice Age winters’, Weather 60, 37–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seinä, A. and Palosuo, E.: 1996, ‘The classification of the maximum annual extent of ice cover in the Baltic Sea 1720–1995’, Report No. 27 of the Finnish Institute of Marine Research, Helsinki, pp. 79–91.

  • Shabalova, M. V. and van Engelen, A. F. V.: 2003, ‘Evaluation of a reconstruction of the winter and summer temperatures in the Low Countries, AD 764–1998’, Climatic Change 58, 219–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simkin, T. and Siebert, L.: 1994, Volcanoes of the World, 2cnd ed., Geoscience Press, Tucson, Ariz., p. 349.

  • Schaak, P.: 1982, ‘Ein Beitrag zum Preussenjahr 1981 en Berlin’, Beilage zur Berliner Wetterkarte 38/82, SO4/82. Institut für Meteorologie der Freien Universität Berlin.

  • Taborda, J. P., Garcia, J. C. and Alcoforado, M. J.: 2004, ‘The climate of southern Portugal during the 18 th century: Reconstruction based on descriptive and instrumental sources’, Geo-Ecologia, Rel. 2, Centro de Estados Geográficos, Lisboa (in Portuguese with an English summary.

  • Tarand, A. and Nordli, P. Ø.: 2001, ‘The Tallinn temperature series reconstructed back half a millennium by the use of proxy data’, Climatic Change 48, 189–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, D. J.: 1995, ‘The seasons, global temperature, precession’, Science 268, 59–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Engelen, A. F. V. and Nellestijn, J. W.: 1995, Monthly, seasonal and annual means of the air temperature in tenths of centigrades in De Bilt, Netherlands, 1706-1995. KNMI (Dutch Met. Service) Report, Climatological Services Division.

  • Van Engelen, A. F. V., Buisman, J. and IJnsen, F.: 2001, A millennium of weather, winds and water in the Low Countries, in History and Climate: Memories of the Future? Jones, P.D. et al., (eds.), pp. 101–124, Kluwer, Dordrecht.

  • Vesajoki, H., Narinen, M. and Holopainen, J.: 1995, ‘Early temperature records from Tornio, northern Finland, 1737–1749’, in Heikinheimo, P. (ed.), International Conference on Past, Present and Future Climate, SILMU, Publications of the Academy of Finland, 6/95, 183–186.

  • Wigley, T. M. L. and Jones, P. D.: 1987, ‘England and Wales precipitation: A discussion of recent changes in variability and an update to 1985’, Journal of Climatology 7, 231–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wigley, T. M. L., Lough, J. M. and Jones, P. D.: 1984, ‘Spatial patterns of precipitation in England and Wales and a revised, homogeneous England and Wales precipitation series’, Journal of Climatology 4, 1–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodley, M. R.: 1996, ‘A review of two national rainfall series’, Int. J. Climatol. 16, 677–687.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xoplaki, E. Luterbacher, J., Paeth, H., Dietrich, D., Steiner, N., Grosjean, M. and Wanner, H.: 2005, ‘European spring and autumn temperatures, variability and change of extremes over the last half millennium’, Geophys. Res. Letts. L15713, doi:10.1029/2005GRL023424.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Climatic Research Unit, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K.

    P. D. Jones & K. R. Briffa

Authors
  1. P. D. Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. R. Briffa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. D. Jones.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jones, P.D., Briffa, K.R. Unusual Climate in Northwest Europe During the Period 1730 to 1745 Based on Instrumental and Documentary Data. Climatic Change 79, 361–379 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-006-9078-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-006-9078-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation