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Climate researchers decipher old logbooks for new weather knowledge!
Climate researchers from Bielefeld University are examining historical ship logbooks for the ITCZ with funding of 1.3 million euros.
Climate researchers decipher old logbooks for new weather knowledge!
In July 2025, important research projects will begin to investigate historical climate conditions, which will provide valuable insights into the dynamics of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The focus is on historical logbooks from ships of the transatlantic slave trade. These contain important information about past climate conditions and are now being evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of climate researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and a climate historian from Bielefeld University.
How aktuell.uni-bielefeld.de reports, the “DOLDRUMS” project will receive funding of 1.3 million euros from the Volkswagen Foundation. The title is called “Deciphering OLD ship Records to Understand the Maritime Structure of the Atlantic Intertropical Convergence Zone” and will be carried out over four years starting in October 2025. The project aims to develop a new source of historical weather data and improve predictions of future climate change.
The role of the ITCZ and its meteorological impacts
The Intertropical Convergence Zone is a crucial meteorological phenomenon. It is a low-pressure trough near the equator where the northeast and southeast trade winds meet. This zone, often referred to as the Doldrums, is an area where calm winds and short tropical thunderstorms prevail. Meteorologically, the location of the ITCZ varies with the seasons, followed by the sun's zenith position, making it particularly sensitive to climatic changes.
The ITCZ has profound significance for global precipitation distribution, providing approximately one-third of global precipitation. A shift or change in the ITCZ due to climate change could have a significant impact on the drinking water supply of millions of people. As the German Weather Service explains, the dominant air movements in the ITCZ often attract massive rainfall due to warm air, which can take the form of powerful thunderstorms.
Historical analyzes and modern technology
In order to better understand the dynamics and future developments of the ITCZ, it is important to look into the past. The research focuses on the years 1783/84, when the ITCZ deviated due to a volcanic eruption in Iceland. The historical ship logs, which contain data on wind and weather conditions, are now being analyzed using the storm-resolving climate model ICON.
The researchers are aware that data on past changes to the ITCZ is sparse. By analyzing these logbooks, they hope to better understand the impact of the weather conditions at the time on living conditions on board. Storms or calms could significantly lengthen sea voyages and potentially lead to uprisings.
In conclusion, the studies on the Intertropical Convergence Zone are important not only for understanding historical weather events, but also for the future challenges in the context of global climate change. How marum.de explains, understanding these complex relationships is important in order to be able to better classify the shifts in the rain belt under different environmental conditions.