The Climate of London
Luke Howard began to make daily records of the weather in 1806 at Plaistow, where his pharmaceutical factory was located, later in Stratford and then in the garden of his new home on Tottenham Green from 1813. He published his monthly results in several journals and in 1818 he published the Climate of London. A later edition was published in 1833 in three volumes.
The Climate of London Volume 1
begins with an introduction to the work, explaining his intention to make available in one place consistent records of weather events. He argues that for the benefit of 'agriculture and navigation', a systematic approach is required, and he outlines his methods and equipment in some detail. The tables of observations taken first at Plaistow from 1806–9 are interspersed with notes and a commentary which includes accounts of similar weather phenomena observed elsewhere.
The Climate of London Volume 2: Deduced from Meteorological Observations
contains a preface in which Howard discusses the reasons for the order of presentation of his material, which, he disarmingly admits with hindsight, might have been improved. The tabular material in this volume, supplied with notes and commentary citing published reports from around Europe, comes from observations made at Tottenham in the period 1817–19. This historic material will be of interest to environmental scientists as well as to those interested in the history of meteorology.
The Climate of London Volume 1
begins with an introduction to the work, explaining his intention to make available in one place consistent records of weather events. He argues that for the benefit of 'agriculture and navigation', a systematic approach is required, and he outlines his methods and equipment in some detail. The tables of observations taken first at Plaistow from 1806–9 are interspersed with notes and a commentary which includes accounts of similar weather phenomena observed elsewhere.
The Climate of London Volume 2: Deduced from Meteorological Observations
contains a preface in which Howard discusses the reasons for the order of presentation of his material, which, he disarmingly admits with hindsight, might have been improved. The tabular material in this volume, supplied with notes and commentary citing published reports from around Europe, comes from observations made at Tottenham in the period 1817–19. This historic material will be of interest to environmental scientists as well as to those interested in the history of meteorology.
In attempting to reduce to some sort of method the great mass of observations before me,
I was not seldom in the case of the traveller in a South American forest, who is obliged, even where others
have gone before him, to cut his way at every step through a tangled thicket.
Luke Howard in Climate of London Introduction 1833
I was not seldom in the case of the traveller in a South American forest, who is obliged, even where others
have gone before him, to cut his way at every step through a tangled thicket.
Luke Howard in Climate of London Introduction 1833
Download the International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC) edition of
Luke Howard's Climate of London based on the 1833 edition here
Luke Howard's Climate of London based on the 1833 edition here
Luke Howard was the first person to identify the Urban Heat Island phenomenon.
Learn more about his measuring instruments and the Urban Heat Island effect.
Learn more about his measuring instruments and the Urban Heat Island effect.
