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Rudolf Brazdil - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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droughts in historical times in europe as derived from Documentary Evidence
2020Co-Authors: Rudolf Brazdil, Ladislava řeznickova, Andrea Kiss, Mariano BarriendosAbstract:Documentary Evidence can provide high-resolution data pertaining to past droughts. This may include a wide range of sources, among them: narratives (annals, chronicles, memoirs); diaries kept by persons specifically interested in the weather; accountancy and economic-administrative archives; legal-administrative records; religious observances; letters; songs; newspapers and magazines; paintings and pictographic Evidence; chronograms; epigraphic Evidence; early instrumental meteorological observations; society and professional reports; and weather compilations. Most of these are generally available for many European countries. Such a variety of Documentary information is sufficient to distinguish between the basic types of drought (meteorological, agricultural, hydrological and socio-economic) and reconstruct hydroclimatic conditions in the form of series of precipitation totals, drought frequencies and drought indices. This paper presents a European overview of existing Documentary-based drought studies for the Mediterranean, western, central and eastern areas of Europe. Examples of outstanding European droughts are drawn from events of 1361, 1616 and 1718–1719 CE. The descriptions of European droughts and of human responses to them, pay particular attention to impacts on society, to perceptions of drought and to spiritual and ritual responses, as well as to the institutional/legal-administrative decisions and changes droughts have brought about. Perspectives for future research into historical droughts in Europe are also presented.
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potential of Documentary Evidence to study fatalities of hydrological and meteorological events in the czech republic
Water, 2019Co-Authors: Rudolf Brazdil, Kateřina Chroma, Lukas Dolak, Ladislava řeznickova, Jan řehoř, Pavel Zahradnicek, Petr DobrovolnýAbstract:This paper presents the potential of Documentary Evidence for enhancing the study of fatalities taking place in the course of hydrological and meteorological events (HMEs). Chronicles, “books of memory”, weather diaries, newspapers (media), parliamentary proposals, epigraphic Evidence, systematic meteorological/hydrological observations, and professional papers provide a broad base for gathering such information in the Czech Republic, especially since 1901. The spatiotemporal variability of 269 fatalities in the Czech Republic arising out of 103 HMEs (flood, flash flood, windstorm, convective storm, lightning, frost, snow/glaze-ice calamity, heat, and other events) in the 1981–2018 period is presented, with particular attention to closer characterisation of fatalities (gender, age, cause of death, place, type of death, and behaviour). Examples of three outstanding events with the highest numbers of fatalities (severe frosts in the extremely cold winter of 1928/1929, a flash flood on 9 June 1970, and a rain flood in July 1997) are described in detail. Discussion of results includes the problem of data uncertainty, factors influencing the numbers of fatalities, and the broader context. Since floods are responsible for the highest proportion of HME-related deaths, places with fatalities are located mainly around rivers and drowning appears as the main cause of death. In the further classification of fatalities, males and adults clearly prevail, while indirect victims and hazardous behaviour are strongly represented.
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impacts of hydrometeorological extremes in south moravia based on Documentary Evidence
2017Co-Authors: Kateřina Chroma, Lukas Dolak, Rudolf Brazdil, Ladislava řeznickovaAbstract:Hydrometeorological extremes have influenced human lives significantly in the past, just as they continue to do today. To analyse these influences in the past, information is needed from before the start of systematic meteorological and hydrological observations. Documentary Evidence constitutes a very rich source of information about past hydrometeorological extremes. This paper focuses on impacts of hydrometeorological extremes on agriculture and material property and their socio-economic consequences. It also discusses the potential and limitations of such Documentary Evidence. Despite Documentary Evidence’s several limitations (e.g. spatial and temporal uncertainty, uncertainty in the annual distribution of records, in the type of extreme, etc.), it is a promising source of information useful for future studies.
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Documentary Evidence in the study of past hydrometeorologicalextremes in south moravia
2015Co-Authors: Kateřina Chroma, Lukas Dolak, Rudolf Brazdil, Hubert Valasek, Ladislava řeznickovaAbstract:Information about hydrological and meteorological extremes (HMEs) in the instrumental period can be extended back into pre-instrumental times using Documentary Evidence from a variety of data sources. Financial and economic records, particularly those related to taxation data, are among the most important such sources. Exploration of these sources provides information about HMEs in terms of dates and places of occurrence, courses, and impacts. Data of this kind from South Moravia were interpreted and included in a dedicated database, bringing the number of records of past HMEs to 2,010. This contribution demonstrates the high potential of this type of data.
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selected drought impacts in south moravia in the 18th and 20thcenturies based on Documentary Evidence
2015Co-Authors: Lukas Dolak, Rudolf Brazdil, Ladislava řeznickova, Hubert ValasekAbstract:This contribution addresses the impacts of drought upon human society in South Moravia in the 18th–20th centuries, utilizing Documentary Evidence (parish and village chronicles, taxation and damage records, and correspondence). The consequences of drought are reviewed with respect to their impacts on agriculture (with special emphasis on crop production), water resources, and socio-economic conditions.
David J Nash - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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recent advances in the historical climatology of the tropics and subtropics
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 2014Co-Authors: David J Nash, George AdamsonAbstract:Recent years have seen major advances in the understanding of the historical climatology of tropical and subtropical areas, primarily through the analysis of Documentary materials such as weather diaries, newspapers, personal correspondence, government records, and ship logs. This paper presents a critical review of these advances, drawing upon examples from across the tropics and subtropics. The authors focus in particular on the ways in which Documentary Evidence has been used to improve our understanding of 1) historical temperature variability, 2) fluctuations in annual and seasonal precipitation, and 3) the occurrence, severity, and impact of tropical cyclones. They also discuss the ways in which Documentary Evidence has been combined with information from natural archives to reconstruct historical El Nino and La Nina episodes. The article concludes with some suggestions for future research. These include the exploration of historical documents from hitherto under-researched regions and the applicati...
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a sky of brass and burning winds Documentary Evidence of rainfall variability in the kingdom of lesotho southern africa 1824 1900
Climatic Change, 2010Co-Authors: David J Nash, Stefan W GrabAbstract:Forecasting austral summer rainfall in southern Africa is hampered by a lack of long-term instrumental data. This paper extends the historical record for the subcontinent by presenting the first extensive 19th century climate history for Lesotho derived from Documentary Evidence. The data sources included unpublished English-, French- and Sesotho-language materials archived in Lesotho, South Africa and the UK. These included letters, journals and reports written by missionaries and colonial authorities, which were supplemented by newspapers, diaries, travelogues and other historical sources. Each source was read in chronological order, with any climate information recorded verbatim. Observations were classified into five categories (Very Wet, Relatively Wet, ‘Normal’, Relatively Dry, and Very Dry) based upon the predominant documented climate during each ‘rain-year’ (July to June). The latter portion of the chronology was then compared for accuracy against available instrumental precipitation records from Maseru (1886–1900). The results yield a semi-continuous record of climate information from 1824 to 1900. Data are restricted to lowland areas, but reveal drought episodes in 1833–34, 1841–42, 1845–47, 1848–51, 1858–63, 1865–69, 1876–80, 1882–85 and 1895–99 (the most severe drought years being 1850–51 and 1862–63) and wet periods or floods in 1835–36, 1838–41, 1847–48, 1854–56, 1863–65, 1873–75, 1880–81, 1885–86 and 1890–94. The rainfall chronology is compared with similar records for South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Linkages to possible forcing mechanisms, including ENSO teleconnections and historical coral-derived southwest Indian Ocean sea surface temperature variations are also explored.
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Documentary Evidence of climate variability during cold seasons in lesotho southern africa 1833 1900
EGUGA, 2009Co-Authors: Stefan W Grab, David J NashAbstract:This study presents the first 19th century cold season climate chronology for the Kingdom of Lesotho in southern Africa. The chronology is constructed using a variety of Documentary sources including letters, diaries, reports, monographs and newspaper articles obtained from southern African and British archives. Information relating to cold season weather phenomena during the austral autumn, winter and early spring months were recorded verbatim. Each of the cold seasons from 1833 to 1900 was then classified as “very severe”, “severe” or “normal/mild”, with a confidence rating ranging from low (1) to high (3) awarded against each annual classification. The accuracy of the document-derived chronology was verified against temperature data for Maseru for the period 1893–1900. Excellent correspondence of the document-derived chronology with the Maseru instrumental data and also with other global proxy temperature records for the 19th century is achieved. The results indicate 12 (18% of the total) very severe, 16 (23%) severe and 40 (59%) normal/mild cold seasons between 1833 and 1900. The overall trend is for more severe and snow-rich cold seasons during the early part of the study period (1833–1854) compared with the latter half of the 19th century (with the exception of the 1880s). A reduction in the duration of the frost season by over 20 days during the 19th century is also tentatively identified. Several severe to very severe cold seasons in Lesotho follow after major tropical and SH volcanic eruptions; such years are usually characterized by early frosts, and frequent and heavy snowfalls. The blocking of solar radiation and the enhanced northward displacement of polar fronts that are directly or indirectly associated with volcanic events, may account for many of the most severe Lesotho winters during the 19th century.
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on the dry valleys of the kalahari Documentary Evidence of environmental change in central southern africa
The Geographical Journal, 1996Co-Authors: David J NashAbstract:Dry 'fossil' valleys (mekgacha) are an important landscape feature in the semi-arid to arid Kalahari Desert of central southern Africa. The majority of valleys do not contain flow, except in their headwater regions, but may contain pools of water on a seasonal basis. As a result, they are frequently mentioned in historical accounts of the region recorded by European travellers, and from these reports it is possible to assemble a picture of hydrological change. This paper describes the Evidence for such change, for the period c. 1750 until c. 1910. Discussion mainly concerns the most frequently observed valleys, the Molopo and Kuruman, although Middle Kalahari systems are also considered. The picture which emerges is one of little change in Middle Kalahari systems. A decline in flow in the Kuruman since c. 1750 is tentatively identified, pre-dating the period of permanent human settlement in this region. The river appears to have established its present regime after 1800. A previously unrecognized flood event in the Kuruman in 1820 is also identified. These hydrological changes are placed within the context of historical climate Evidence from the southern Cape of South Africa and show close correlation. This suggests that Documentary Evidence may be used to extend the climate record established for the southern African summer rainfall zone into the Kalahari.
Petr Dobrovolný - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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potential of Documentary Evidence to study fatalities of hydrological and meteorological events in the czech republic
Water, 2019Co-Authors: Rudolf Brazdil, Kateřina Chroma, Lukas Dolak, Ladislava řeznickova, Jan řehoř, Pavel Zahradnicek, Petr DobrovolnýAbstract:This paper presents the potential of Documentary Evidence for enhancing the study of fatalities taking place in the course of hydrological and meteorological events (HMEs). Chronicles, “books of memory”, weather diaries, newspapers (media), parliamentary proposals, epigraphic Evidence, systematic meteorological/hydrological observations, and professional papers provide a broad base for gathering such information in the Czech Republic, especially since 1901. The spatiotemporal variability of 269 fatalities in the Czech Republic arising out of 103 HMEs (flood, flash flood, windstorm, convective storm, lightning, frost, snow/glaze-ice calamity, heat, and other events) in the 1981–2018 period is presented, with particular attention to closer characterisation of fatalities (gender, age, cause of death, place, type of death, and behaviour). Examples of three outstanding events with the highest numbers of fatalities (severe frosts in the extremely cold winter of 1928/1929, a flash flood on 9 June 1970, and a rain flood in July 1997) are described in detail. Discussion of results includes the problem of data uncertainty, factors influencing the numbers of fatalities, and the broader context. Since floods are responsible for the highest proportion of HME-related deaths, places with fatalities are located mainly around rivers and drowning appears as the main cause of death. In the further classification of fatalities, males and adults clearly prevail, while indirect victims and hazardous behaviour are strongly represented.
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monthly seasonal and annual temperature reconstructions for central europe derived from Documentary Evidence and instrumental records since ad 1500
Climatic Change, 2010Co-Authors: Petr Dobrovolný, Rudolf Brazdil, Christian Pfister, Andrea Kiss, Anders Moberg, Rudiger Glaser, Rob Wilson, Aryan Van Engelen, Danuta Limanowka, Monika HalickovaAbstract:Monthly temperature series for Central Europe back to AD 1500 are developed from Documentary index series from Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic (1500-1854) and 11 instrumental temperature records (1760-2007). Documentary Evidence from the Low Countries, the Carpathian Basin and Poland are used for cross-checking for earlier centuries. The instrumental station records are corrected for inhomogeneities, including insufficient radiation protection of early thermometers and the urban heat island effect. For overlapping period (1760- 1854), the Documentary data series correlate with instrumental temperatures, most strongly in winter (86% explained variance in January) and least in autumn (56% in September). For annual average temperatures, 81% of the variance is explained. Verification statistics indicate high reconstruction skill for most months and seasons. The last 20 years (since 1988) stand out as very likely the warmest 20-year period, accounting for the calibration uncertainty and decreases in proxy data quality before the calibration period. The new reconstruction displays a previously unobserved
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five centuries of central european temperature extremes reconstructed from tree ring density and Documentary Evidence
Grid and Pervasive Computing, 2010Co-Authors: Giovanna Battipaglia, Rudolf Brazdil, Christian Pfister, Petr Dobrovolný, Ulf Buntgen, David Frank, Jan EsperAbstract:Abstract Future climate change will likely influence the frequency and intensity of weather extremes. As such events are by definition rare, long records are required to understand their characteristics, drivers, and consequences on ecology and society. Herein we provide a unique perspective on regional-scale temperature extremes over the past millennium, using three tree-ring maximum latewood density (MXD) chronologies from higher elevations in the European Alps. We verify the tree-ring-based extremes using Documentary Evidences from Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Central Europe that allowed the identification of 44 summer extremes over the 1550–2003 period. These events include cold temperatures in 1579, 1628, 1675, and 1816, as well as warm ones in 1811 and 2003. Prior to 1550, we provide new Evidence for cold (e.g., 1068 and 1258) and warm (e.g., 1333) summers derived from the combined MXD records and thus help to characterize high-frequency temperature variability during medieval times. Spatial coherence of the reconstructed extremes is found over Switzerland, with most signatures even extending across Central Europe. We discuss potential limitations of the tree-ring and Documentary archives, including the ( i ) ability of MXD to particularly capture extremely warm temperatures, ( ii ) methodological identification and relative definition of extremes, and ( iii ) placement of those events in the millennium-long context of low-frequency climate change.
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Documentary Evidence on strong winds related to convective storms in the czech republic since ad 1500
Atmospheric Research, 2003Co-Authors: Petr Dobrovolný, Rudolf BrazdilAbstract:This article summarizes information about the occurrence of strong winds connected with convective storms in the Czech Republic for the last 500 years obtained on the basis of the study of historical Documentary sources. Documentary Evidence about strong winds is characterized with respect to its advantages and drawbacks. Principles are stated for setting up the database of strong winds and the classification of those cases from the point of view of the type of the phenomenon, extent and character of the damage caused. The chronology of strong winds is presented since AD 1500 with particular respect to the occurrence of tornadoes. For tornadoes, their occurrence during the year is analyzed, as well as their dimensions, intensity and the character of the damage caused. All cases of tornadoes, so far recorded in the Czech Republic, are listed and characterized in the appendix. The impacts of strong winds during convective storms and tornadoes are evaluated. The importance of Documentary Evidence about strong winds from pre-instrumental period is pointed out.
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Documentary Evidence on climate in sixteenth century europe
Climatic Change, 1999Co-Authors: Christian Pfister, Rudolf Brazdil, Mariano Barriendos, Petr Dobrovolný, Ruediger Glaser, Dario Camuffo, Mathias Deutsch, Silvia Enzi, Emanuela Guidoboni, Oldřich KotyzaAbstract:The known Documentary climatic Evidence from six European countries — Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, ancient Hungary, Italy and Spain — is presented and classified in this article and then further analyzed in subsequent papers included in this volume. The sixteenth century witnessed an increase in the number and variety of sources in Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic as well as in the western and northern parts of ancient Hungary (present Slovakia). In northern Italy, the relevant sources are more abundant and widespread than in central Europe, but they have hardly been explored. Town chronicles written by members of the literate elite comprise the basic type of Evidence in central Europe (including northern Italy and Hungary). This kind of source reports exceptional climatic events (e.g. anomalies and natural disasters) along with their impact on the environment and on society. Documentary data are the only Evidence known to exist for reconstructing time series of natural disasters prior to the twentieth century. In order to document the extreme character of an event, chroniclers frequently referred to features in the cryosphere, biosphere or hydrosphere that were known to be more accurate yardsticks of temperature and precipitation patterns than subjective impressions. When records of such events are compiled with the description of some of the known effects, the results can be transformed into a severity index. Whereas chroniclers usually focused upon extreme events, long, continuous and seemingly homogeneous series of different kinds of proxy data are drawn from administrative records. Most of them are connected to the timing of certain kinds of agricultural work (haymaking, beginning of grain harvest or vintage) or to the amount and quality of agricultural production (per hectare yield of vineyards, sugar content of wine, etc.). In most cases the timing of these works was found to be directly related to temperature patterns over the preceding months and weeks.
Christian Pfister - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Evidence from the archives of societies Documentary Evidence overview
2018Co-Authors: Christian PfisterAbstract:Human archives contain three kinds of information: instrumental measurements, narrative data providing direct weather information, and observations of “proxies” providing indirect climate data. This Documentary-based proxy Evidence includes both plant and ice-phenological observations as well as historical hydrology, or observations of hydrological conditions and extremes before the creation of national hydrological networks. We can further classify these archives by their authors and circumstances of production. This chapter distinguishes between documents produced by members of official bodies (institutional sources) and those produced by individual amateur observers (personal sources), although some source types may belong to both categories. To assess and interpret these sources, researchers need to know who produced them, why, and how they recorded meteorological conditions and their human consequences.
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combined dendro Documentary Evidence of central european hydroclimatic springtime extremes over the last millennium
Quaternary Science Reviews, 2011Co-Authors: Ulf Buntgen, Kateřina Chroma, Rudolf Brazdil, Christian Pfister, Karluwe Heussner, Jutta Hofmann, Raymond Kontic, Tomas Kyncl, Willy TegelAbstract:A predicted rise in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and associated effects on the Earth’s climate system likely imply more frequent and severe weather extremes with alternations in hydroclimatic parameters expected to be most critical for ecosystem functioning, agricultural yield, and human health. Evaluating the return period and amplitude of modern climatic extremes in light of pre-industrial natural changes is, however, limited by generally too short instrumental meteorological observations. Here we introduce and analyze 11,873 annually resolved and absolutely dated ring width measurement series from living and historical fi r( Abies alba Mill.) trees sampled across France, Switzerland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, which continuously span the AD 962e2007 period. Even though a dominant climatic driver of European fir growth was not found, ring width extremes were evidently triggered by anomalous variations in Central European AprileJune precipitation. Wet conditions were associated with dynamic low-pressure cells, whereas continental-scale droughts coincided with persistent high-pressure between 35 and 55
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monthly seasonal and annual temperature reconstructions for central europe derived from Documentary Evidence and instrumental records since ad 1500
Climatic Change, 2010Co-Authors: Petr Dobrovolný, Rudolf Brazdil, Christian Pfister, Andrea Kiss, Anders Moberg, Rudiger Glaser, Rob Wilson, Aryan Van Engelen, Danuta Limanowka, Monika HalickovaAbstract:Monthly temperature series for Central Europe back to AD 1500 are developed from Documentary index series from Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic (1500-1854) and 11 instrumental temperature records (1760-2007). Documentary Evidence from the Low Countries, the Carpathian Basin and Poland are used for cross-checking for earlier centuries. The instrumental station records are corrected for inhomogeneities, including insufficient radiation protection of early thermometers and the urban heat island effect. For overlapping period (1760- 1854), the Documentary data series correlate with instrumental temperatures, most strongly in winter (86% explained variance in January) and least in autumn (56% in September). For annual average temperatures, 81% of the variance is explained. Verification statistics indicate high reconstruction skill for most months and seasons. The last 20 years (since 1988) stand out as very likely the warmest 20-year period, accounting for the calibration uncertainty and decreases in proxy data quality before the calibration period. The new reconstruction displays a previously unobserved
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five centuries of central european temperature extremes reconstructed from tree ring density and Documentary Evidence
Grid and Pervasive Computing, 2010Co-Authors: Giovanna Battipaglia, Rudolf Brazdil, Christian Pfister, Petr Dobrovolný, Ulf Buntgen, David Frank, Jan EsperAbstract:Abstract Future climate change will likely influence the frequency and intensity of weather extremes. As such events are by definition rare, long records are required to understand their characteristics, drivers, and consequences on ecology and society. Herein we provide a unique perspective on regional-scale temperature extremes over the past millennium, using three tree-ring maximum latewood density (MXD) chronologies from higher elevations in the European Alps. We verify the tree-ring-based extremes using Documentary Evidences from Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Central Europe that allowed the identification of 44 summer extremes over the 1550–2003 period. These events include cold temperatures in 1579, 1628, 1675, and 1816, as well as warm ones in 1811 and 2003. Prior to 1550, we provide new Evidence for cold (e.g., 1068 and 1258) and warm (e.g., 1333) summers derived from the combined MXD records and thus help to characterize high-frequency temperature variability during medieval times. Spatial coherence of the reconstructed extremes is found over Switzerland, with most signatures even extending across Central Europe. We discuss potential limitations of the tree-ring and Documentary archives, including the ( i ) ability of MXD to particularly capture extremely warm temperatures, ( ii ) methodological identification and relative definition of extremes, and ( iii ) placement of those events in the millennium-long context of low-frequency climate change.
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reconstructing past climate and natural disasters in europeusing Documentary Evidence
PAGES News, 2002Co-Authors: Christian Pfister, Rudolf Brazdil, Mariano BarriendosAbstract:Reconstructing Past Climate and Natural Disasters in Europe Using Documentary Evidence CHRISTIAN PFISTER1, RUDOLF BRAZDIL2, MARIANO BARRIENDOS3 1National Center of Competence in Research on Climate (NCCR), Institute of History, University of Bern, Switzerland; pfister@hist.unibe.ch 2Department of Geography, Masaryk University, Brno, The Czech Republic; brazdil@sci.muni.cz 3GAMA Group, Department of Astronomy and Meteorology, University of Barcelona, Spain; barriendos@eresmas.net
Kateřina Chroma - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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potential of Documentary Evidence to study fatalities of hydrological and meteorological events in the czech republic
Water, 2019Co-Authors: Rudolf Brazdil, Kateřina Chroma, Lukas Dolak, Ladislava řeznickova, Jan řehoř, Pavel Zahradnicek, Petr DobrovolnýAbstract:This paper presents the potential of Documentary Evidence for enhancing the study of fatalities taking place in the course of hydrological and meteorological events (HMEs). Chronicles, “books of memory”, weather diaries, newspapers (media), parliamentary proposals, epigraphic Evidence, systematic meteorological/hydrological observations, and professional papers provide a broad base for gathering such information in the Czech Republic, especially since 1901. The spatiotemporal variability of 269 fatalities in the Czech Republic arising out of 103 HMEs (flood, flash flood, windstorm, convective storm, lightning, frost, snow/glaze-ice calamity, heat, and other events) in the 1981–2018 period is presented, with particular attention to closer characterisation of fatalities (gender, age, cause of death, place, type of death, and behaviour). Examples of three outstanding events with the highest numbers of fatalities (severe frosts in the extremely cold winter of 1928/1929, a flash flood on 9 June 1970, and a rain flood in July 1997) are described in detail. Discussion of results includes the problem of data uncertainty, factors influencing the numbers of fatalities, and the broader context. Since floods are responsible for the highest proportion of HME-related deaths, places with fatalities are located mainly around rivers and drowning appears as the main cause of death. In the further classification of fatalities, males and adults clearly prevail, while indirect victims and hazardous behaviour are strongly represented.
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impacts of hydrometeorological extremes in south moravia based on Documentary Evidence
2017Co-Authors: Kateřina Chroma, Lukas Dolak, Rudolf Brazdil, Ladislava řeznickovaAbstract:Hydrometeorological extremes have influenced human lives significantly in the past, just as they continue to do today. To analyse these influences in the past, information is needed from before the start of systematic meteorological and hydrological observations. Documentary Evidence constitutes a very rich source of information about past hydrometeorological extremes. This paper focuses on impacts of hydrometeorological extremes on agriculture and material property and their socio-economic consequences. It also discusses the potential and limitations of such Documentary Evidence. Despite Documentary Evidence’s several limitations (e.g. spatial and temporal uncertainty, uncertainty in the annual distribution of records, in the type of extreme, etc.), it is a promising source of information useful for future studies.
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Documentary Evidence in the study of past hydrometeorologicalextremes in south moravia
2015Co-Authors: Kateřina Chroma, Lukas Dolak, Rudolf Brazdil, Hubert Valasek, Ladislava řeznickovaAbstract:Information about hydrological and meteorological extremes (HMEs) in the instrumental period can be extended back into pre-instrumental times using Documentary Evidence from a variety of data sources. Financial and economic records, particularly those related to taxation data, are among the most important such sources. Exploration of these sources provides information about HMEs in terms of dates and places of occurrence, courses, and impacts. Data of this kind from South Moravia were interpreted and included in a dedicated database, bringing the number of records of past HMEs to 2,010. This contribution demonstrates the high potential of this type of data.
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combined dendro Documentary Evidence of central european hydroclimatic springtime extremes over the last millennium
Quaternary Science Reviews, 2011Co-Authors: Ulf Buntgen, Kateřina Chroma, Rudolf Brazdil, Christian Pfister, Karluwe Heussner, Jutta Hofmann, Raymond Kontic, Tomas Kyncl, Willy TegelAbstract:A predicted rise in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and associated effects on the Earth’s climate system likely imply more frequent and severe weather extremes with alternations in hydroclimatic parameters expected to be most critical for ecosystem functioning, agricultural yield, and human health. Evaluating the return period and amplitude of modern climatic extremes in light of pre-industrial natural changes is, however, limited by generally too short instrumental meteorological observations. Here we introduce and analyze 11,873 annually resolved and absolutely dated ring width measurement series from living and historical fi r( Abies alba Mill.) trees sampled across France, Switzerland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, which continuously span the AD 962e2007 period. Even though a dominant climatic driver of European fir growth was not found, ring width extremes were evidently triggered by anomalous variations in Central European AprileJune precipitation. Wet conditions were associated with dynamic low-pressure cells, whereas continental-scale droughts coincided with persistent high-pressure between 35 and 55
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Documentary Evidence of an economic character as a source for the study of meteorological and hydrological extremes and their impacts on human activities
Geografiska Annaler Series A-physical Geography, 2006Co-Authors: Rudolf Brazdil, Hubert Valasek, Kateřina ChromaAbstract:This paper deals with Documentary Evidence of an economic character as a proxy for direct study of meteorological and hydrological extremes. Taxation records and reports of those who administrated domains and estates are described with respect to information about meteorological and hydrological extremes. Based on data from eight domains or estates from Moravia (in the Czech Republic), frequency series of floods and convective storms (including hailstorms) were developed for the period 1650-1849. One example of disastrous weather, which took place on 10 August 1694 in the Pernstejn domain, is used to demonstrate the potential for such studies of the intensity of extremes and their impact on human activities. The importance of economic Evidence in the instrumental period is shown through tax rebate data contingent upon hailstorm damage in Moravia (1896-1906). The benefits of employing Documentary economic Evidence for historical climatology and the study of the impact of meteorological and hydrological extremes on human activities are discussed.