32
BAMOS
Jun 2020
‘Limpness to all mankind’
While most other historical climate studies have looked at
annual or monthly values, the new record enabled us to look at
daily extremes.
This is important, because global temperature increases are
most clearly detected in changes to extreme events such as
heatwaves. Although these events may only last a few days,
they have very real impacts on human health, agriculture and
infrastructure.
Our analysis focused on the previously undescribed period
before 1910, to extend the Bureau of Meteorology’s official
record as far as possible.
Using temperature observations, we identified 34 historical
heatwaves and 81 cold events in Adelaide from 1838–1910.
We found more than twice as many of these “snow days” by
conducting an independent analysis of snowfall accounts in
historical documents.
Almost all the events in the temperature observations were
supported by newspaper reports. This demonstrated our
method can accurately identify historical temperature extremes.
For example, an outbreak of cold air on June 22, 1908, delivered
widespread snow across the hills surrounding Adelaide. The
Express and Telegraph newspaper reported:
"Many people made a special journey from Adelaide by
train, carriage, or motor to revel in the unwonted delight
of gazing on such a wide expanse of real snow, and all
who did so felt that their trouble was amply rewarded
by the panorama of loveliness spread out before their
enraptured eyes."
From December 26–30, 1897, Adelaide was gripped by a
heatwave that produced five days above 40°C. Newspapers
reported heat‐related deaths, agricultural damage, animals
dying in the zoo, bushfires and even “burning hot pavements
scorching the soles of people’s shoes”. As The Advertiser
reported:
"When the mercury reaches its “century” (100°F or 37.6°C)
there must be a really uncomfortable experience for
everyone. One such day can be struggled with; but six of
them in a fortnight, three in succession—that is a thing to
bring limpness to all mankind."
Snowballing at Mount Lofty 29 August 1905. Source: State Library of South Australia