High summer temperatures during the Edo-Bakumatsu period (1850s-1860s)

Abstract

In Japan, official meteorological data were not available before 1872. However, we have many historical documents which are useful for reconstructing temperatures in 18th and 19th centuries. Also meteorological instrumental data during early 19th century have been found in several locations in Japan. These proxy and instrumenatl data clarified the summer high tempearture episode durin 1850s and 1860s in Japan. We made an attempt to analyze the spatial and tempotral variations of the warm summer episode in mid-19th century in comparison with hemispheric atmospheric circulation patterns.