Variability in the Distribution of Solar Radiation Using Historical Weather Descriptions During the Tempo Famine Period

Abstract

Based on weather descriptions recorded in 18 historical diaries, this study attempted to reconstruct monthly mean solar radiation data from 1821 to 1850. Moreover, it discusses inter-seasonal climate disasters and their effects, focusing on the 1830s’ Tempo Famine in Japan. The climate conditions in 1833, 1836, and 1838 were analyzed using the spatial distribution and inter-seasonal solar radiation variations as the percentage of the reconstructions from the 30-year mean. Solar radiation was low in the summers of 1833, 1836, and 1838, whereas the regional distribution of the values was different in each year.