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www.clim-past-discuss.net/7/3399/2011/
doi:10.5194/cpd-7-3399-2011
© Author(s) 2011. This work is distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Early Portuguese meteorological records (18th century)
1Centro de Estudos Geográficos, IGOT, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
2Departamento de Física, Universidad de Extremadura, Mérida, Spain
3CGUL, Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Lisbon, Portugal
4Departamento de Eng. Civil da Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon, Portugal
5Escola Secundária Gabriel Pereira, Évora, Portugal
Abstract. Natural proxies, documentary evidence and instrumental data are the main sources used to reconstruct past climates. In this paper, we present the 18th century meteorologists (either Portuguese or foreigners), who made the first observations at several sites in Continental Portugal, Madeira Island and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), from 1749 until 1802. Information is given concerning observation site, variables observed, measurement period, methodologies and sources (both manuscript and printed). Some examples from the data usefulness are given: rainfall variability in Madeira (1749–1753) and in Continental Portugal (1781–1793) was reconstructed, allowing to extend towards the late 18th century the well known negative correlation between the NAO index and seasonal rainfall. Furthermore, previously unpublished data for 1783–1784 has allowed analysing the consequences of the Laki eruption in Portugal: foggy and haze days are referred to in summer 1783, but unlike the hot summer observed in Northern and Central Europe, temperatures in Portugal were lower than average. Additionally, observations from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil show that the Laki consequences may well have spread to sectors of the Southern Hemisphere. Although the series are short, the data will be used for climate reconstruction studies focused in Southern Portugal and are also useful to improve the quality of large scale reconstruction datasets.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 1158 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 11 Comments) Final Revised Paper (CP) Special Issue
Notice on Discussion StatusCitation: Alcoforado, M. J., Vaquero, J. M., Trigo, R. M., and Taborda, J. P.: Early Portuguese meteorological records (18th century), Clim. Past Discuss., 7, 3399-3448, doi:10.5194/cpd-7-3399-2011, 2011. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
