Tuesday, August 5, 2008

James Cook's journals might put the kybosh on AGW belief

Or not.

METICULOUSLY kept logbooks of Captain James Cook's Endeavour are to be analysed by researchers studying modern climate change.

Thousands of Royal Navy records that have survived from the 17th century, ranging from Nelson's Victory and the Endeavour down to the humblest frigate, have emerged as one of the world's best sources for long-term weather data.

The discovery has been made by a group of British academics and Meteorological Office scientists who were seeking new ways to plot historic changes in the climate.

"This is a treasure trove," said Sam Willis, a maritime historian and author who is affiliated with Exeter University's Centre for Maritime Historical Studies.

"Ships' officers recorded air pressure, wind strength, air and sea temperature, and other weather conditions," Dr Willis said. "From those records scientists can build a detailed picture of past weather and climate."

I think you can buy extracts from the journals from the Australian National Library. Have a look here.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The crocodile ate the Captain’s homework as he returned from building an empire. So what did he do? He fudged the results to make our Enchanted Planet appear to be fraught with storms, delirium and mermaids.

Faith, trust and pixie dust! You’re a flat-earth denialist, Hook!

Pass me my sword, Tink…

This is Never Land and I’ll never grow up!

Zardoz said...

The Hawaiians killed off Captain Cook, an early “denier”, back in 1779 in an attempt to silence the foes of AGW. Even today the site of the Captain Cook Monument, on Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, is maintained by the Royal Navy in an attempt to keep the nosy seppos at a safe distance.

The truth is out there.

kae said...

Hey Zardoz, I've been to that memorial!

I hadn't realised the deep conspiratorial meaning in it in September/October 1991 when I was in Hawaii.

kae said...

Peter Pan, it's COOK, dear. COOK, not Hook.

And yes, I think he's a denialist, before it became unfashionable.