Unlocking Pre-1850 Instrumental Meteorological Records: A Global Inventory

Instrumental meteorological measurements from periods prior to the start of national weather services are designated “early instrumental data.” They have played an important role in climate research as they allow daily to decadal variability and changes of temperature, pressure, and precipitation, including extremes, to be addressed. Early instrumental data can also help place twenty-first century climatic changes into a historical context such as defining preindustrial climate and its variability. Until recently, the focus was on long, high-quality series, while the large number of shorter series (which together also cover long periods) received little to no attention. The shift in climate and climate impact research from mean climate characteristics toward weather variability and extremes, as well as the success of historical reanalyses that make use of short series, generates a need for locating and exploring further early instrumental measurements. However, information on early instrumental series has never been electronically compiled on a global scale. Here we attempt a worldwide compilation of metadata on early instrumental meteorological records prior to 1850 (1890 for Africa and the Arctic). Our global inventory comprises information on several thousand records, about half of which have not yet been digitized (not even as monthly means), and only approximately 20% of which have made it to global repositories. The inventory will help to prioritize data rescue efforts and can be used to analyze the potential feasibility of historical weather data products. The inventory will be maintained as a living document and is a first, critical, step toward the systematic rescue and reevaluation of these highly valuable early records. Additions to the inventory are welcome

Financial education is in need of a shake-up: Three guiding reorientations

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a rethink of many areas of our society. Financial education should be no exception. Based on the assumptions of 20th century neoclassical economics, and not catering for cultural, social and ecological considerations in our purchasing decisions, the New Zealand offering of resources to teach financial wellbeing are lacking in several key areas. I expose the gaps in the current approach by discussing the financial reality for many people in New Zealand. I propose three reorientations towards financial education based on 1) changes to people’s current financial situations and financial prospects; 2) changes to our understanding of the importance of ecological and social factors in purchasing decisions, and the role of cultural factors in access to financial products; and finally, 3) developments in our knowledge of how we make decisions. I conclude that a new set of assumptions should be adopted, and that educators commit to preparing our young people for a future of both financial instability and change, and financial wellbeing and success, encouraging them to define their own success measures individually and in their communities

Madras Observatory Papers

Scans of plates in the book

The design and construction of oil engines, with full directions for erecting, testing, installing, running and repairing, including descriptions of American and English kerosene oil engines, with an appendix on marine oil engines,

Mode of access: Internet