Disastrous Weather Analysis
Disastrous Weather Analysis
Disastrous Weather Analysis
THE EXTREME WEATHER IN THE WAR
OVERVIEW
Relationship between Little ice age and War
Social activities heavily depend on climate. Climate factors like temperature, pressure and humidity probably influences our lives. There are cyclic patterns of wars and temperature changes. The incidence of war in the NH in A.D. 1400–1900 tends to follow a cyclic pattern with a turbulent period followed.
Therefore, we recognize the war caused by climate change in the ice age, especially A.D. 1300-1800 that we decided as the “Little ice age”. And we examine the weather information at the time of the war. As a result, we analyze and identify the cases in which the weather is the cause of the war.
Source : Q. Ge, Z. Hao, J. Zheng, and X. Shao, (2013.), “Temperature changes over the past 2000yr in China and comparison with the Northern Hemisphere”, 『Clim.Past』, 9, pp1153-1160
1) American War of Independence(1775)
<American War of Independence : Surrender of Lord Cornwallis> by John Trumbull
Source : Architect of the capitol
Due to complex causes which include prolonged strikingly severe coldness in 1740 and financial difficulties after Seven years’ War, United Kingdom suffered financial and economical shortage. To revive its country from crisis, United Kingdom overrated taxes to its colony, America, which is remarkable in ‘Stamp Act’ in 1765 : finally triggered American War of Independence.
2) Battle of Copenhagen between England and Denmark(1801)
<The Battle of Copenhagen, 2 April 1801> by Nicholas Pocock
Source : Royal Museums Greenwich
In 1799, cool and excessive rainy weather lasted in growing season, April to July, because United Kingdom was under the center of low pressure. And in 1800, drought occurred because of the extension of Azores High. As a result, United Kingdom suffered from crop failure. To get out of starving, United Kingdom tried to import grains but failed because of Russia’s embargo in the Baltics. Finally, United Kingdom decided to attack Russia using naval force. But considering ice conditions, it attacked its hostile country, Denmark.
3) French Revolution (1789)
Source : <La Liberté guidant le peuple>
by Eugène Delacroix
At the end of the 18th century, Europe was dominated by extreme cold. In particular, France suffered from severe cold and droughts from 1786 to 1788, caused by strong high pressure. As a result, farmers who suffered from the cold were unable to survive due to a shortage of food because of reduced grain harvests. In this pain, the French Revolution against the nation began in March 1789.
4) Synchronism of East Asia
Source : 김문기, (2011.), “17세기 중국과 조선의 재해와 기근”, 『이화사학연구소』, 43, pp71-129
According to this chart, the collapse of Ming Dynasty and the great famine of 1670 and 1671 in Korea took place over 30 years gap. Famine can be found Korea, China and Japan in 1640s, 1670s and 1690s.
5) The collapse of Ming Dynasty(1644)
Source : Dongbeier
In the 1600s, the Ming Dynasty was in an internally unstable situation due to internal corruption and lack of financial resources. Under such circumstances, the dispatch of troops to help the Japanese invasion of Korea in the Imjin War, and the invasion of the northern barbarians and the southern Japanese weekend the nation's power.
At this time, the cold and drought caused by great severe famine, and the impatient people raised uprisings throughout the country. Among them, rise of Li Zicheng and the peasant rebellion dealt a fatal blow to the nation's power. So, Ming unable to withstand the won's entrenchment which eventually led to the collapse of the Ming Dynasty,
6) The great famine in Korea(1670, 1671)
The collision of the meteorite brought various natural disasters to Joseon. Early frost, hail, drought and flooding in 1670 brought about a huge famine in Joseon. Due to natural disasters, the fragile environment has caused infectious diseases In addition, the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease also kills livestock, leaving Joseon in chaos.
