The first systematic meteorological observations in the Americas (Recife, 1640–42)

Domínguez-Castro, Fernando ; Gallego, María de la Cruz ; Vaquero, Jose M. ; García Herrera, Ricardo ; Corral, Victoria ; Marina Sáez, Rosa M. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Trigo, Ricardo M. ; Libonati, Renata ; Noguera, Iván ; El Kenawy, Ahmed ; Peña Angulo, Dhais (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Vicente-Serrano, Sergio M.

Resumen: In 1639, the German naturalist Georg Marcgraf established the first astronomical observatory in the Americas, located in Recife (Brazil). There, he made the first daily systematic meteorological observations of wind direction, precipitation, fog, and thunder and lightning from 1640 to 1642. We outline the circumstances that led to this observatory being established and analyze the observations. The range of values obtained from all the variables recorded by Marcgraf corresponds well with Recife’s current climate. However, wetter-than-normal conditions were recorded during 1640, while anomalous concentrations of foggy days occurred from May to December 1641. We hypothesize that these anomalous record foggy days could be associated with the highly explosive eruptions of the Komagatake and Parker volcanoes, both in 1640.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-21-0269.1

Año: 2023

Publicado en: BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY 104, 8 (2023), E1493-E1506
ISSN: 0003-0007

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN-FEDER/PCI2019-103631
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2019-108589RA-I00

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Geografía Física (Dpto. Geograf. Ordenac.Territ.)
Área (Departamento): Área Filología Latina (Dpto. Ciencias de la Antigüed.)