A decade of cold Eurasian winters reconstructed for the early 19th century

Lukas Reichen, Angela-Maria Burgdorf, Stefan Brönnimann (), Jörg Franke, Ralf Hand, Veronika Valler, Eric Samakinwa, Yuri Brugnara and This Rutishauser
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Lukas Reichen: University of Bern
Angela-Maria Burgdorf: University of Bern
Stefan Brönnimann: University of Bern
Jörg Franke: University of Bern
Ralf Hand: University of Bern
Veronika Valler: University of Bern
Eric Samakinwa: University of Bern
Yuri Brugnara: University of Bern
This Rutishauser: University of Bern

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Annual-to-decadal variability in northern midlatitude temperature is dominated by the cold season. However, climate field reconstructions are often based on tree rings that represent the growing season. Here we present cold-season (October-to-May average) temperature field reconstructions for the northern midlatitudes, 1701-1905, based on extensive phenological data (freezing and thawing dates of rivers, plant observations). Northern midlatitude land temperatures exceeded the variability range of the 18th and 19th centuries by the 1940s, to which recent warming has added another 1.5 °C. A sequences of cold winters 1808/9-1815/6 can be explained by two volcanic eruptions and unusual atmospheric flow. Weak southwesterlies over Western Europe in early winter caused low Eurasian temperatures, which persisted into spring even though the flow pattern did not. Twentieth century data and model simulations confirm this persistence and point to increased snow cover as a cause, consistent with sparse information on Eurasian snow in the early 19th century.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29677-8

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