Disastrous Weather Analysis
Disastrous Weather Analysis
Disastrous Weather Analysis
THE EXTREME WEATHER IN THE WAR
IN EUROPE
American War of Independence(1775)
<political & economical background>
After the first moving of British from United Kingdom to America in 1607, especially Jamestown in Virginia, British people including Pilgrim Fathers moved to America on the Mayflower to find freedom of religion. Since then, America was the colony of United Kingdom. And in 1740, there was severe coldness in United Kingdom. This severe coldness had brought decrease in food so that poor people like peasants had died from diseases related to hunger. Considering that the food and other essential supplies were shipped, it was certain to have food shortages. Also, United Kingdom had been in financial difficulties after doing Seven years’ War from 1756 to 1763. As a result United Kingdom went through just before breakdown of its economy.
<American War of Independence : The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill> by John Trumbull
Source : Boston Museum of Fine Arts
<American War of Independence : Battle of Trenton> by Charles McBarron
Source : U.S. Army Center of Millitary History
To revive from complex difficulties due to severe coldness and economical crisis, United Kingdom imposed heavy taxes over its colony, America. The biggest problem was ‘Stamp Act’ of 1765, which is to obligate attaching stamp on all the publications including legally valid certificates that is published in America. But America as well as United Kingdom was in the same financial difficulties. Also those papers are published in America, not in United Kingdom so it didn’t have to impose taxes, since the tax is imposed between countries. While having conflicts over heavy taxes, United Kingdom also charged its army expense to American citizens.
Furthermore, American citizens were not represented in British parliament so that they had no way of expressing their ideas. All of these contributed American citizens to feel complaint. In 1775, American citizens bursted into anger and American War of Independence broke out.
<climatic background>
According to historic record, in winter of 1740, at some places in United Kingdom, 3 inches of thick ice had formed in just 24 hours. Even the Thames freezed for about eight weeks, same in other ports along the east coast. In addition to this, due to low temperature, streets were covered with snow and ice.
This graph, using dataset by Gorden Manley, shows you that the year 1740 was strikingly cold, dropped by 6.8℃.
Source : DW-Team C
This graph, also using dataset Gorden Manley, shows you that the winter of 1740 was colder than other years, about -0.4℃.
Source : DW-Team C
Using the dataset made by British meteorologist, Gordon Manley, we draw the graphs above. We could find that mean temperature of 1740 was strikingly cold comparing to other years’ mean temperature : dropped by 6.8℃. In winter of 1740, we can also find that it recorded the lowest temperature about -0.4℃ compared to mean winter temperature in other years.
The reason why the year 1740 was exceptionally cold is not yet confirmed. But we could expect that this outstanding severe coldness in 1740 combined with economical crisis triggered American War of Independence.