A method to reconstruct long precipitation series using systematic descriptive observations in weather diaries: the example of the precipitation series for Bern, Switzerland (1760-2003)

Gimmi, Urs; Luterbacher, Jürg; Pfister, Christian; Wanner, Heinz (2007). A method to reconstruct long precipitation series using systematic descriptive observations in weather diaries: the example of the precipitation series for Bern, Switzerland (1760-2003). Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 87(1-4), pp. 185-197. Wien: Springer 10.1007/s00704-005-0193-5

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In contrast to barometric and thermometric records, early instrumental precipitation series are quite rare. Based on systematic descriptive daily records, a quantitative monthly precipitation series for Bern (Switzerland) was reconstructed back to the year 1760 (reconstruction based on documentary evidence). Since every observer had his own personal style to fill out his diary, the main focus was to avoid observer-specific bias in the reconstruction. An independent statistical monthly precipitation reconstruction was performed using instrumental data from European sites. Over most periods the reconstruction based on documentary evidence lies inside the 2 standard errors of the statistical estimates. The comparison between these two approaches enables an independent verification and a reliable error estimate.

The analysis points to below normal rainfall totals in all seasons during the late 18th century and in the 1820s and 1830s. Increased precipitation occurred in the early 1850s and the late 1870s, particularly from spring to autumn. The annual precipitation totals generally tend to be higher in the 20th century than in the late 18th and 19th century. Precipitation changes are discussed in the context of socioeconomic impacts and Alpine glacier dynamics. The conceptual design of the reconstruction procedure is aimed at application for similar descriptive precipitation series, which are known to be abundant from the mid-18th century in Europe and the U.S.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geography
06 Faculty of Humanities > Department of History and Archaeology > Institute of History > Economic, Social and Environmental History

UniBE Contributor:

Luterbacher, Jürg, Pfister, Christian, Wanner, Heinz

ISSN:

0177-798X

Publisher:

Springer

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 14:59

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:18

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s00704-005-0193-5

Web of Science ID:

000241581000012

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/25500

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/25500 (FactScience: 58926)

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