HEAVY STORMS IN 1783 IN A HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY RECORD

Meteorologický časopis, 16, 2013, 13 – 20 | 13

HEAVY STORMS IN 1783 IN A HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY RECORD JANA SOUKUPOVÁ Department of Water resources and Environmental Modelling, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6 – Suchdol, 165 21, Czech Republic

The year of 1783 was remarkable by the sequence of natural events, which highly affected functioning of the thensociety. Some of these catastrophes incurred considerable damages on holdings and also on lives of people. The paper is focused on beginning of summer of 1783, which brought unprecedented warm weather to Europe, documented lateralso by wine growing achievements, but also dry and catastrophic storms with all their impacts – vigorous activity of lightning and resulting fires, hailstorms, winds and local floods. Temperatures and storms were strengthened by fissureeruption of Laki volcano in Iceland, which had begun on 8th June 1783. Cloud of its products passed through Europeand changed chemical and microphysical properties of the atmosphere. There are records on many events of the year of1783 not only in contemporary press, but also in very valuable documentary sources as chronicles and personal diaries. Rok 1783 byl podivuhodný sledem přírodních událostí, které velmi ovlivnily chod tehdejší společnosti. Některé z těchto katastrof způsobily nemalé škody na majetku i na životech lidí. Článek je zaměřen na počátek léta 1783, který přinesl doEvropy nebývale teplé počasí, dokumentované později i vinařskými úspěchy, ale také sucho a katastrofické bouřky se všemi dopady – silnou aktivitou blesků a následnými požáry, kroupami, větrem a místními záplavami. Teploty i bouřkovéudálosti zesílila puklinová erupce sopky Laki na Islandu, která začala 8. června roku 1783. Oblak jejích zplodin prošel Evropou a změnil chemické a mikrofyzikální vlastnosti ovzduší. O mnoha událostech A.D. 1783 existují záznamy nejenv dobovém tisku, ale také ve velmi cenných dokumentárních pramenech jako jsou kroniky a osobní deníky. Keywords: Laki, high temperatures, storms, documentary sources, vineculture

INTRODUCTION

It is 230 years from the catastrophic volcanic event this year – an eruption in Laki fissure in Iceland. The year of 1783, when this event occurred, was the year of very significant natural catastrophes, earthquakes among others, and those even in relatively undisturbed seismic regions (England - August 1783, Germany - May 1783, France - July 1783). The most tragic impact had the earthquake in Italian Calab-ria, where about 40 000 inhabitants died, and news about it spread all over Europe. Year 1783 was also interesting with astronomic events, aurora polaris was visible, fall of a bo-lide was observed across the entire Europe on 17th August 1783, another one was recorded in October, and a smaller one in May in Virginia [1, 11]. Fear dominating among commons was even raised by bright comet 226P/Pigott LINEAR/Kowalski [19], observable towards the end of the year of 1783. Last but not least, year 1783 entered the history by volcanic activity, whether it was Japanese vol-cano Asama (May, VEI 4), Vesuvius (August, lava flow, VEI 3), or Icelandic volcanoes (Reykjanes, VEI 3 and sub-marine volcanic activity “Nyey” in February, Grimsvotn VEI 4, May) [7, 27]. The largest demographic and climatic disaster was caused by very strong fissures eruption of Laki volcano (in literature also called Lakagigar).

Occurrences of very strong storms, often with hailstorm and with fatal aftermath for population were mentioned in chronicles and in contemporary press in connection with

volcanic activity and also with extraordinary course weather in spring and in summer of 1783.

WARM WEATHER

Spring and summer of 1783 was very warm. It is evident from temperature measurements we have available from that time that temperatures in Central Europe and Western Europe were above average (Fig. 1). We can find references on dry and warm weather in chronicles and press of that time. For example, Gilbert White, English minister, na-turalist, and distinguished ornithologist, in his observation: The natural history and antiquities of Selborne, writes the following: “The summers of 1781 and 1783 were unusual-ly hot and dry to them therefore I shall turn back in my journals without recurring to any more distant period. In the former of these years my peach and nectarine trees suf-fered so much from the heat that the rind on the bodies was scalded and came off since which the trees have been in a decaying state.” [30] His observations pertain to nature of Selborn in Hampshire. Before the book was written, Gilbert White wrote these perceptions of his in a form of a diary or letters to friends. In Gentleman's Magazine (24th July 1783), the author wrote under initial A.Z. about his observation of evidently small dust whirl, so-called devil's spawn in very hot air: “During the late hot weather which in this month has been very intense, I have frequently observed upon the

high road a large quantity of dust suddenly whirled up into the air a considerable height (full as rapidly as it was cau-sed by a hurricane) in a day when the atmosphere has been quite clear and not wind sufficient to support a feather.” [26] Even this note shows evidence of high temperatures and dry atmosphere. We can find references in Bohemian chronicles: “Tohoto roku bylo velmi suché léto, nebo od jarního, to jest od měsíce aprílu až do měsíce novembris, ani jeden obyčejný déšť nepršel, kromě na místa z ňáký bouřky když pršelo. Při tom v létě tak velká parna byly, že kdyby toho času jakási neobyčejná, jako mlha, aneb na způsob časových požárů slunce bylo nezastiňovalo, snad všechno by slunečná horkost vypálila. Nebo ranního času hned slunce vycházející viděti nebylo pro ty požáry, až po-tom vod šesti do desíti hodin slunce jako železná na červeno rozpálená koule vyhlíželo, potom od devíti až do tří neb čtyřech hodin něco jasněj svítilo, však předce tak smutně vy-hlíželo, až k velkému podivení bylo.” [15] (Free translation from the Czech language: Very dry summer was this year, or from spring, that is to say, from month of April as late as month of November, not one ordinary rain poured, except on the spots from some storm when it rained. So intense sultriness was in that summer that had not some sort of ex-traordinary fog at that time, or some way of temporal fires, thrown the sun into the shade, perhaps sun hotness would have burnt out everything. Or in the morning time immedia-tely rising sun could not be seen for those fires, only later from six till ten o'clock the sun looked like an iron red-hot ball, then from nine to three or four o'clock it shone a little brighter, however, it looked so sadly to great surprise.) Figure 1. Daily temperatures measured in the Klementinum observatory - comparison of average temperatures of period of 15th May – 30th September 1800 – 1850 and 1900 – 1950 with daily temperatures of 1783. Data source: www.ecad.eu.

5

10

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25

30

15.5

.21

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27.5

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6.8.

6.14

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20.6

.26

.6.

2.7.

8.7.

14.7

.20

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26.7

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8.7.

8.13

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19.8

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31.8

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9.12

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18.9

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30.9

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days

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ture

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15.5.-30.9.1783 A.D.average values 15.5.-30.9.1800-1850 A.D.average values 15.5.-30.9.1900-1950 A.D.

That the year of 1783 was presented in chronicles and

records as a fertile one, e.g., records concerning vinecul-ture and wine quality gave evidence. Of course, grapevine needs enough heat for quality of its fruits and their sweet-ness. For example, grapes harvest in France was earlier thanks to hot summer, and vintage was referred to as ex-ceedingly sweet [26]. It is said in the chronicle of village Pavlov – “Pavlov vineculture”: “Byla bohatá úroda hroznů. Obec zaznamenala celkem 12.507 věder vína” [17]. (Free translation from the Czech language: There was a wealthy crop of grapes. The village recorded a total of 12,507 buc-

kets of wine.) It is said in calendar Mährischer Wanderer (“Moravian pilgrim”) in 1823 [12]: “Veliký a vysoce pro-slavený růst vína v tomto meteorologicky podivuhodném roce (téměř jedinečném) v 18. století, který přinesl vulka-nické výbuchy, připravil zuřivé zemětřesení v Kalabrii, vysoké povětří bez dosud žádné podobnosti, potom nastou-pivší “hohenrauch” nad téměř celou Evropou od června až do poloviny srpna, trval velmi neuvěřitelně. Vzduch byl silný z neustálých požárů. Drahocenné víno z roku 1783 mělo od roku 1746 až do roku 1811 takovou pověst, že za celých 65 let lepší a jemnější nebylo.” (Free translation from the Czech language: Enormous and highly famed growth of vines in this meteorologically admirable year (almost unique) in 18th century, which brought about vol-canic blasts, readied furious earthquake in Calabria, heavy winds with no similarity so far, then arriving “hohenrauch” (upper smoke) above nearly entire Europe from June to the mid of August, lasted very incredibly. Air was stout from incessant fires. Precious wine of year 1783 had such repu-tation that for the whole 65 years from 1746 to 1811 there wasn't any better and more delicate.) Václav Krolmus, a patriotic priest, an archaeologist, and also a writer, wrote in his chronicle: “R.1783 vinice okolo Mělníka a Šopky vydaly lahodná a velmi chutná vína.” [16] (Free translation from the Czech language: In 1783, vineyards around Měl-ník and Šopka provided delicious and very tasty wines.)

LAKI ERUPTION

When on Sunday 8th June 1783 at nine o'clock in the morning of the local time Laki fissure in Iceland opened, the first explosive phase of its volcanic activity started. At first ex-plosions, the column of products reached above troposphere boundary, which is usually in elevation of 9 – 10 km above Iceland [11, 27]. Polar jet stream and tropospheric flow then started to carry the products farther from the source. For the sake of comparison, the world produced 76 million metric tonnes of SO2 in 2001, Laki spewed out 122 millions of tonnes during the first six weeks of eruption. Volcanic cloud from Iceland wandered at first to the vicinity of Faroe Islands, where it was observed by sailors, afterwards there were records from Bergen (Norway), and from Scotland, dated 10th June 1783. It was followed by Prague'´s Klemen-tinum on 16th June 1783, observation in Germany 17th

– 18th June, and France 18th

– 21st June, after that observation in Great Britain, 22nd

– 25th June 1783 [9, 25]. By the end of July, aerosol pollution expanded all over the Northern hemi-sphere. According to climatic models, two strong maxima were formed above Iceland and above Western Europe, and sites of significant concentrations above Russia and North Africa. From August, high concentration of products was already only above Iceland [11]. Over the affected places “dry fog” was observed together with special visual pheno-mena, such as opalescent air, red sun, vibrations of celestial bodies. Eruptive activity of the volcano ended in October, thenceforth followed only by a silent, extrusive phase. Activity in the Laki fissure was the greatest lava extrusion in the Northern hemisphere after that of Eldgja volcano (A.D 934.) [11]. (Fig. 2 – Probable synoptic situation)

14 | Meteorologický časopis, 16, 2013

Figure 2. Probable synoptic situation at the time of Laki eruption – map No.1, at the time of the first observation of “dry fog” (16th June) in Prague´s Klementinu – map No. 2, further 22nd June – map No. 3, and 1st July – map No. 4 [13].

The first observations outside Iceland were on Faroe Islands (Denmark), in Bergen (Norway), and in Scotland (U.K.), particu-larly on 10th June.1783. The next is surprisingly Prague on 16th June 1783, Germany on 17th – 18th June, France 18th to 21st. Afterwards observation are reported from Great Britain on 22nd – 25th June 1783 [9]. The data is ambiguous. However, it seems that thanks to positions of pressure formations, and specific flow around them, the products from Laki could expand first to the North of Europe, then strike Poland, Bohemia, and turn in retrograde way to the West to Germany, France, and Great Britain.

THUNDERSTORMS

Immense area affected by “dry fog” proved that gases emit-ted by fissure eruptions were transported by air stream and retained such a concentration that they had significant im-pact not only on environment, but also on weather in a given region. Greenhouse effect, which was formed by virtue of high concentration of SO2 in lower troposphere, yet increa-sed above-average heat at the beginning of summer of 1783. Aerosols of sulphuric acid from volcanic explosion absorbed solar radiation in troposphere and contributed to warming [11, 27]. Extremely hot summers in Europe were characterized by pressure increase above Central Europe [6, 13]. At the time of Laki eruption, depression was above Iceland [8], and quasi-stationary pressure-height above Europe. Therefore, we can attribute unusual temperatures also to position of pressure formations and flow of warm air from the south.

Heat and products from volcanic explosion, which functioned as condensation nuclei and changed microphy-sical and electrical characteristics of clouds, contributed to rise of heavy storms, many times with hailstorm, high speed of wind, and torrential rain (Tab. 2).

From the time of about 1783 we already have early meteorological measurements (mostly only temperature se-ries), but especially so-called documentary records - written and graphic documents. These are, above all, subjective observations of various authors. Chronicles, personal dia-ries, commentaries from landed estates, and correspon-dence belong to the most important reports [3]. Storms are not abnormal in our region, especially in summer season. Therefore, we can read about them in documentary records only in cases, when they are significant for the observer in some way – their frequency in a given period, heavy lightning activity, damages in a form of thunder stroke ignition, killing livestock, hailstone, or local flood, wind, but especially if a man lost his life at storms.

Table 1. Number of storms observed in Prague´s Klementi-num observatory. Numbers differ according to various authors, this table comes from reports of meteorological observations [5]. Number of storms in Prague in 1783 is really the highest. Average number of days with storms – 22 - for Prague from Climatological Atlas CR (for referential period of 1981 – 2000). Station Libuš states 20.15 days (for referential period of 1973 – 2012).

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

1777 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1778 1 1 1 1 4 1779 1 2 1 4 1780 3 2 5 1781 2 10 4 16 1782 3 3 5 1 12 1783 1 1 4 7 10 12 2 37 1784 1 2 3 6 15 2 29 1785 2 2 3 3 10 1786 3 1 5 1 2 1 13 1787 2 3 3 8 2 1 19

Have a look to the European documentary sources. Interesting reports may be found in periodicals. English “The Gentleman's Magazine and historical chronicle” in 1783 featured several alarming reports of this type. Very destructive thunderstorm with resulting fire is described in Cracow, Poland, 6th July. Thunder stroke lit 12 houses, several people died. Heavy damages were described, for example, from Cadiz, Spain, 7th July. Several shops and houses were stricken with thunder stroke during very heavy storm. Flushing, today's Dutch harbour Vlissingen, reported very big storm with lightening on 10th July. From Slovak Kremnice, the press described thunderstorm on 13th July, when lightning lit several places and seven houses were burned down to the bottom, fifty persons were killed, and subsequent rain caused local floods. From Geneva a report came on thunder stroke to the church and in it 15 worshippers perished. The magazine summarised the event

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as follows: “The thunder has been more alarming, and the lighting more fatal, during the course of the present month, than has been known for many years, as appears from the accounts that follow.” [26]

“The tempest of Friday night did much damage at West Meon and burned down three houses and a barn” - this is the description of damage of thunderstorm on 12th July by Gilbert White [30], who speculated over peculiar course of storms in his birthplace: “We are very seldom annoyed with thunderstorms and it is no less remarkable than true that those which arise in the south have hardly been known to reach this village for before they get over us they take a direction to the east or to the west or sometimes divide into two and go in part to one of those quarters and in part to the other as was truly the case in summer 1783, when though the country round was continually harassed with tempests and often from the south yet we escaped them all as appears by my journal of that summer”. Reverend Dick Polwhele mentioned in his chronicle “History of Devon” that the whole summer was stormy. He described even his encountering fireball, also fires after thunder stroke. We can even presume from his papers that he met traces after tornado – shattered grain, churned up fields, trees unrooted. William Dunn in his diary kept a record of 9th July: “The most dreadful thunder and lightning I have ever known...”, and he mentioned killed sheep and a housekeeper even with his horse [8].

I found another source concerning unusual storms in a German record: “1783: Eine überaus sonderbare Witte-rung trübte dieses Jahr mit dichtem Nebel zur ungewähnli-chen Zeit den Himmel. Da auch viele starke Gewitter ge-wesen und man die Erfahrung hatte, daß das gewöhnliche Läuten bey demselben vieles Unglück verursachte, indem es oft in die Kirchen einschlug, so wurde dieses einge-schränkt.” [10]. (Free translation from the German language: Extremely strange weather covered the heaven this year with dense fog in unusual time. Because there was also ma-ny heavy storms, people had experience that usual chiming caused many misfortunes in storms, because it often struck to the church, so that chiming was restricted.)

This report most likely related to prohibition of chi-ming church bells, which issued prince elector Karel Theodor Wittelsbach in Regensburg, Germany, on 14th August 1783. I take the liberty of a small deflection from the description of storms in German press. Thunderstorms were respon-sible for deaths of many bell-ringers and priests. In village Doubrava (Western Bohemia), six people were killed by thunderbolt just on chiming “to clouds” [4]. Therefore, on 26th November 1783, enlightened monarch Josef II. also prohibited chiming “to clouds” by his imperial patent in lands of Austria-Hungary. Even so, this long past custom, and supposition that sounds of bells stopped thunderstorm, conveyed even to the next century. One interesting super-stition concerning chiming, was mentioned in papers of village Starý Poddvorov [20]: “Když se zvonilo proti kru-pobití, trhavě se tahalo lanem od Donáta (jméno zvonu) a zvoník se měl modlit Otčenáš pozpátku, aby blesk neu-hodil do zvonice.”(Free translation from the Czech langua-ge: When the bell was rung against hailstorm, it was pulled with jerky movements of rope from Donát (the name of the

bell), and the bell-ringer had to pray the Lord's prayer back-wards so that the lightning did not struck to the bell tower.) Another interesting mention about “chiming to clouds” was found in Slovak press. So-called Prešpurské noviny began to appear in summer of 1783. It also dealt with, among others, meteorological phenomena. Reports of harmfulness of chiming against storm appeared in the fifth issue of the first year. There was also a report about how a gravedigger perished at storm in Klatovy in Bohemia together with two girls and three boys, with whom he rung against storm after then custom on tower, to which lightning struck. On 22nd July 1783, Prešpurské noviny brought in its another issue report from Plzeň, where lightning struck to the to-wer, in which ten persons rang, and that six persons were killed at that, and other four were injured. The article editor further noted that: “Jeden každý lidomilovník, vida tak mnohé nešťastné příhody, jenž se pro zvonění naproti mračnům staly srdečně žádá, aby tento nebezpečný obyčej již jednou zapověděn byl. Jako se to již ve Falcu na rozkaz vrchnosti stalo...” [14]. (Free translation from the Czech language: One and each do-gooder, seeing so many unhap-py events, which from chiming against clouds happened, heartily applies that this dangerous custom be once for all prohibited. As it already happened in Paletinate on com-mand of authorities...). The article was printed even before the order of Emperor Josef II.

There are more sources coming from German-speaking countries. It is evident that they were stricken by storms very perceptibly. Magazine Hohnsteinisches Magazin [24] mentioned: “Die Sonne schien dunkel, und gieng als eine blutrothe Scheibe auf und unter. Den 9 ten, 10 ten und 11 ten Julii stieg dieser Dampf sonderlich als ein Schwefel-rauch auf, und verhüllte bey großer Schwüligkeit die Sonne am Mittage. Er daurete, bis gegen den 27 sten Gewitter zusammen zogen, nachdem er zuvor die Feldfrüchte vor der Sonnengluth bedeckt, vor welcher demohngeachtet manche im Boden nothreif wurden. Eines dieser Gewitter brach den 19 ten Jul. zu Mittagszeit plötzlich aus. Nach einigen Windstößen donnerte es entsetzlich, der Blitz lau-schte nahe der Erde im Nebel hin, bis die dicken krachen-den Wolcken sich aufs Gebürge hoben, wo sie denn jenseits des Harzes Wassergüsse und Hagel herabgeschüttet... ” (Free translation from the German language: The sun shone darkly and rose and set as a bloodily red disk. On 9th 10th, and 11th July, this vapour specially took to the air as sulphuric fume, and it hid the sun at noon together with sultry hot. It lasted it until 27th August, when storms drew back, and vapour before and after hid field crops from glowing sunshine, but in spite of that, much ripe crop laid tumbled overland. One of these storms broke out suddenly in 19th July around noon. After several strokes of wind, there was a fearful clap of thunder, lightning passed the sky near the land, then dense clouds reached the mountain-range, where then currents of water and hailstorm fell in Harz ...)

Friedrich Samuel Bock, naturalist and historian, in his writing in year 1785 wrote: “Von allen übrigen verwüsten-den Naturerscheinungen, die in andern Ländern Schrecken und Schaden anrichteten, als gewaltigen Wolkenbrüchen, Ueberschwemmungen, Hagel und Erdbeben wurde Preus-

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sen verschonet; wenigstens waren Regen und Hagel nicht ungewöhnlich und von größern Nachtheil begleitet, wie in einigen andern Jahren. Manche Gewitter aber waren für-chterlich, und dadurch an einigen Orten des platten Landes, und besonders in dem ermländischen Städtchen Seeburg vieler Schade zugefüget.” [2] (Free translation from the German language: Prussia was spared of all other ravaging natural phenomena, which in other countries caused con-sternation and damages, as violent waterspout, floods, hailstorms, and earthquakes; at least rain and hailstorms were not unusual and they were not accompanied with greater damages, as in some other years. However, some thunderstorms were terrible, and in some places in lowland, especially in Ermland´s town of Seeburg, caused many damages.)

Let us have a look to Bohemian records. Daily observa-tions of weather in the second half of the eighteenth centu-ry were not ordinary, but coincidence of lucky circumstances preserved for us not only memoirs in chronicles, but also observations of well-educated clerical and folk writers. Ka-rel Bernard Hein, a minister in Hodonice, noted the course of weather around year 1783 in Latin. He also noted in his diary important events concerning his parish, his record is interesting about procession, which took place on 20th July 1783, named “processio Lechovicii ob pluviam”, meaning pleading procession “for rain”. He implies dryness pre-vailing at that time. We can find there also records about storms, e.g. at night from 22nd to 23rd July, combined also with strong torrential rain in Znojmo region. Hein mentio-ned a total of 17 days with storms in Znojmo region from June to August 1783 [4]. Another example of splendid folk diary are memoirs, which I found in database of urbane historiography of Moravia, the author of which is cobbler Šimon Špaček: “V tom roce v měsíci juni a juli skoro 4 týd-ně byly veliké střižahy jako mlhy ve dne v noci, takže slunce málo svítilo, takže půl druhé hodiny po východu a 2 hodiny před západem nebylo vidět a měsíc byl tmavý a červený. Taky z toho lidi mnoho soudili a taky veliké bouřky a hro-mobití byly. A nejvíce k Holomouci se to táhlo a mnoho lidí pobilo. U nás v Přerově dne 12. juli taky do dvou domů udeřilo na Kopci, do Vítězovýho pod podomí a na Dolním Rynku do Pauperovýho, tam ale 4 lidi otřeštil, ale nezapá-lil.” [31] (Free translation from the Czech language: In that year in months of June and July, there were large unusual events almost 4 times a week, as fog in day and night, so that little sun was shining, so that one and a half hour after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset nothing could be seen, and the moon was dark and red. Likewise many people were tried because of it, and also there were heavy storms and thunderstorms. And it was drawn mostly to Olomouc and many people were killed. In our place in Přerov, it also struck to two houses on 12th July at place called na Kopci, at Vítěz´s place below, and at Dolní Rynek at Pauper´s place, four people ran wild there, but it did not fire up.) Chronicle, or rather memoirs is well-known by author Jan František Vavák, a folk writer, self-taught person, who also paid great attention in his record to meteorological events. He mentioned storms more frequently, I picked out a record relating to 4th July: “Na den podivného rodiče a patrona našeho sv. Prokopa, bouřka v těch mlhách přišla a z ní

hrom ve vsi Lstiboři do chalupy Hrázskýho udeřil, od če-hož týž Hrázský - hospoda - a Dorota Vaváková, po mém bratru Jiřím Vavákovi, vdova, vyhořeli. V tyto dny veřejně z Prahy (kamžto všechny vrchnosti poznamenání od hroma zabitých lidí daly) prohlášeno jest, že již od jara až do po-sledního června 416 osob v celé zemi od toho Božího posla zachváceno bylo. V samém kouřimském kraji, jež nejmenší jest, 50 osob zabitých se počítá. Ohňů hromových onde i onde zhusta se stalo.” [28] (Free translation from the Czech language: On the day of a peculiar parent and our patron St. Prokop, storm came in those fogs and from it thunder struck in village Lstiboř to the cabin of Mr. Hrázský, from whereof the same Mr. Hrázský - tavern - and Dorota Vavá-ková, a widow of my brother Jiří Vavák, burned up. These days it was declared in public from Prague (where all people killed by thunder were reported to the authorities) that the already 416 persons across the country from that godly messenger were stricken from spring till the last June. At the very Kouřim region, which is the smallest, 50 killed persons were counted. Fires from thunder there and there heavily occurred. [28] It is evident from the notes that Vavák, who was bailiff in village of Milčice u Českého Brodu, that he was not only an excellent observer, but also evidently a newspaper reader, for he knew about unusual number of storms even outside his native village. Verna-cular chronicle of Šebestas family from Klatovy region described storm in 1783 in this way: “Léta 1783, 29 juni povstalo velmi strašlivé povětří, které dosti tvrdě srdce k strachu přivésti muselo, menovitě na sv. Petra a Pavla začalo se tak lejt, jak by vědrem lil, přitom takové hromo-bití a bouř v jednom kuse od hodiny s poledni až do večera trvala, tak že více než-li stokrát hrom učinil, přitom uhodil do starožitného kostela svatýho Vojtěcha, kde 12 centýřů prachu leželo pro bezpečí, že tam žádný oheň nemoh, ta-kový zapálil od toho celý dosti pevný kostel až do gruntu rozhozen.” [23] (Free translation from the Czech language: In 1783 A.D, very terrific weather rose on 29th June, which had to bring heart rather sorely to fear, namely on St. Pe-ter´s and Paul´s began pour as if bucket poured, at the same time such thunderstorm and storm all of a piece from one o'clock after noon till the evening lasted, so that more than hundred times thunder struck, at the same time it struck to the time-honoured St. Vojtěch´s church, where 12 hundredweight of gun-powder were laid for safety, that no fire could come there, it lit therefrom the whole rather firm church, until it was totally taken to pieces.) Historical de-scriptions of Klatovy actually mentioned gun-powder hid-den in the church vault and its explosion [29]. A reference to disaster in Klatovy was also even in newspaper Gentle-man's Magazine, the town there was named Klattau and located to Germany, and also month of the event differed, nevertheless, in my opinion it concerned one and the very same event: “The city of Klattow, in Germany, on 29th of May was thrown into the utmost dread. The lighting fell upon the church of St. Albert, set fire to the powder maga-zine, and totally destroyed the church of St. John, with the houses round it.” [26] At that time, news spread with great delay, and it seems that also misrepresented. In search in old chronicles I discovered another case of extremely sug-gestive description of storms: “Roku 1783 na den Svatých

Meteorologický časopis, 15, 2012 | 17

Apoštolů Petra a Pavla, tj. dne 29. Juny okolo 3 hodiny z poledne stala jest se suchá bouřka ve které Bůh to ne-štěstí na Městečko Zahrádku dopustil, že v té samé (čehož Bůh uchovej) udeřil Hrom do zdejší Hospody po dolní stra-ně tam zapálil, shořelo to celé dolní stavení pak následující Sousedé, tím ohněm ztrestaní byli a vyhořeli, totiž Jan Ságl N.domu 82, Jan Mareš N. 83, Jan Cziesner tehdejší Primas N. 84, Václav Kronigl N.19, Josef Šťastný N. 52, Tomáš Bělohradský N. 54, Antonín Pašek N. 55, Václav Vávra N. 92, pak škola a kostel přičemž se i zvony rozlily. Oltáře pak a Varhany kostelní však s nemalou zkázou se před ohněm odstranily. Nato roku 1784 při zběhu ledův celý most zbo-řen a od vody pryč odnešený jest byl. Což se tomu samému zas 1799 roku stalo.Toto Kostelní Stavení nebolišto Dům Páně krom že v tom 1783 roce vazba a střecha naň jest dána byla tak bezevší vnitřní ozdoby bez stropu věže a jim patřící ozdoby státi jest zůstala, až 1787 tehdejší Vrchno-stenský Vrchní Ředitel Pan P. Kašpar Rieger Kostelní strop zhotoviti a školu novou postaviti nechal.” [18] (Free translation from the Czech language: In the year of 1783, on the day of Saint apostles Peter and Paul, i.e. on 29th June, dry storm occurred around 3 o'clock after noon, in which God allowed that bad luck on village of Zahrádky, and at the same time (whereof God preserve from us) thunder struck to the local tavern along the lower side and fired it up, the entire lower building burned up, then others. The neighbours were chastised by fire and were burned down, namely Jan Ságl, house No. 82, Jan Mareš, No. 83, Jan Cziesner, then primate, No. 84, Václav Kronigl, No.19, Josef Šťastný, No. 52, Tomáš Bělohradský, No. 54, Antonín Pašek, No. 55, Václav Vávra, No. 92, then school and church, during which time also bells melted. However, altars then and church organ were removed from fire with not a small destruction. Thereafter in year of 1784, the entire bridge was wrecked at ice accumulation and washed away by water. Which happened to the very same bridge again in the year of 1799. This church building or the Hou-se of the Lord, except that in that year of 1783 the structure and roof was laid on it without any internal ornamentation and without tower ceiling, and to them belonging ornamen-tation remained standing, until 1787, when then suzerain top principal Mr. P. Kašpar Rieger got church ceiling con-structed and a new school built.) It concerned a manuscript chronicle established at the beginning of 19th century, and always written in specific time intervals, however, the scribes returned also back in time to notable events. The authors being several scribea – only one was recorded in the text: František Kostka. The manuscript was rewritten in 2002 by Mgr. Vladimír Staněk. It is interesting that eight hundred year history of this small town, situated along the Želivka river, was closed down. By the government decree of 27th August 1969, it was decided on liquidation of Zahrádky, which stood in tidal land of newly constructed dam on the Želivka river near Švihov. Therefore, the uni-que chronicle is commemoration even more valuable.

Folk diaries, chronicles, and other records superbly complement diaries of Prague´s Klementinum. The Klemen-tinum observatory, belonging to Jesuit friary, was a place in the middle of 18th century, where instrumental meteoro-logical observations begun. In addition to it, observers (in

1783, it was prominent Czech meteorologist, geographer and director of the observatory Antonín Strnad) recorded notable atmospheric phenomena to diaries. We have from them very articulate news of the course of weather in sum-mer months after Laki eruption, and last but not least, also about storms, which broke out at this time (Tab. 2).

Klementinum´s diaries are true treasure for history of climate in Bohemia, and records bring us insight not only to great numbers of storms in summer season of the year of 1783, but also on phenomena connected with volcanic products from Laki – red Sun and other optical specialities.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

On reading amazing historical records a man will feel respect to simple chroniclers, writers, and scholars, who took hold of pens and recorded important moments of miraculous summer of 1783. I also bow to journalists, who certainly did not have easy work with obtaining informa-tion. Yet chronicles, personal diaries, and press remote over two centuries are probative evidence, which show to us the course of weather and significant phenomena at that time. Heavy storms with all dangerous phenomena, which they brought along, passed through entire Europe, not only countries, from which I picked out reports. They brought along destruction and unhappiness everywhere. It is necessary to realise, what such disasters brought about to commons – fear, material damages, and often then misery and poverty, if house or crop burned down. The worst were the casualties. People evidently did not understand why this had happened. Awareness of Laki eruption did not spread until September 1783 [22], moreover, only among well-educated people. The commons interpreted it as formidable situation from the position of sinners, whom God chastised. It is interesting that in search in Bohemian chronicles I encountered years around 1783 not because there were descriptions of natural events, but because local sanctuaries were refitted, constructed or rebuilt. It seems that it is not coincidence that under pressure of natural disasters the number of donators of clerical structures increased, despite of reforms and restrictions of Emperor Josef II. (dissolution of monasteries, which were not dedicated to generally beneficial activities as science and enlightenment, education and public health).

At the conclusion, it is necessary to take a think, what would happen today after so extensive volcanic eruption, which surely will come. We are very vulnerable, for exam-ple, it is not necessary to look long way back to the pasts – in 2010 Eyjafjallajokull volcano paralysed air traffic above Atlantic and above Europe, and caused damages worth billions not only to business companies. What is more, this one belonged to small eruptions. Volcanic event so exten-sive and time lengthy as Laki would mean not only inter-ruption of air transport, but also imperilment of inhabitants, losses in agriculture, business, thousands of insurance events, if it is accompanied with natural disasters in form of storms, hailstorms, and floods, and probably also the worst losses – human lives. We are not, and we even cannot be enough prepared for such an event.

18 | Meteorologický časopis, 16, 2013

Table 2. For preservation of authenticity, I quote the whole text from Klementinum´s diaries for three months - June, July, and August. It comes from the copy of these diaries [5].

June 1. 6. Torrential rain in the morning. 5. 6. In the morning thick fog from 4 – 8 o'clock, sultry hot,

storm from 13 – 15 o'clock. 6. 6. Two storms.

14. 6. After midday troublesome sultry heat, storm from 20 – 24 o'clock. 16. 6. Fog above the Vltava river from SSW. 17. 6. Dry fog all day long above the Vltava river as in the mountains.

Stars seen from the vestibule. 18. 6. Stars seen with coloured rings, the Sun was setting sanguine.

21. 6. Heavy storm with downpour from 20 – 23 o'clock. Torrential rain until 1 o'clock. Sun was setting red.

22. 6. Red sunset, water rose by 5 inches in 5 o'clock in the morning. 23. 6. Very red Sun. 24. 6. Very red Sun with halo, red sky until 22 o'clock. 26. 6. Heavy storm. 27. 6. Storm at 17 – 19 o'clock. 28. 6. Red Sun at sunset. 29. 6. Permanent thick fog. It was possible to watch the Sun through

fog with naked eye through day; red at sunset. 30. 6. Sun red at sunset.

July 3. 7. 4. 7. 5. 7.

Almost permanent thick fog. On the 4th in the evening in 16.00 heavy storm with downpour until 22.00. It struck to the Vltava river. At the stroke the magnetic needle deflected and stabilized only at 22.00. Water-level rose in the Vltava river by 2 inches.

6. 7. Fog already dissolved. 7. 7. Northern lights through clouds. 8. 7. Sun red at sunset, also Moon red. 9. 7. Moon red with halo until 18 o'clock. Stars with halo.

10. 7. Moon red, also stars and Sun with halo, in the course of time red or pink.

11. 7. In the afternoon Sun red at 18.00 and at 20.00 storm in N. Moon red and also the Sun.

12. 7. At 18.00 storm in N, rain, at 20.00 again storm and rain. 13. 7. From 17.00 o'clock. storm in ENE as far as S. 14. 7. Moon red. 15. 7. Moon red, well visible black spots on Moon. 18. 7. Storm from 13.00 – 16.00 in E as far as NE. 20. 7. Storm from 12 - 15 o'clock. The Sun "draws water". 21. 7. In the afternoon storm, numerous discharges. 22. 7. Column down near Sun. From 8. to 23.7. dense or mild fog

every day. Permanent also elsewhere in the Central Europe. 24. 7. 25. 7. Permanent rain, rain 20 points.

26. 7. Setting Sun similar to elliptical rosette. 28. 7. From 21.00 to 8.00 of the 30th again thick fog.

Storm at 15 o'clock.

August 1. 8. Feint northern lights. 3. 8. Sheet lightning at 21 o'clock in the evening in NW. 4. 8. In the evening heavy storm in W as far as N,

from 20 - 3 o'clock star seen at it. 5. 8. In the morning until 3.00 o'clock heavy storm and downpour. 6. 8. Moon on W red, also storm in E about 8 minutes. 7. 8. Storm at 13 and 14 o'clock. 8. 8. Feint northern lights.

11. 8. At 20 o'clock storm in ENE until 22 o'clock. 16. 8. In the evening moon halo. Moon red. 17. 8. Sun and Moon red. At 18 o'clock, as if the disk was cut

across by heliometeric glass among white filamentous clouds, soon with oval shape. The phenomenon lasted 30 minutes. Sun red at sunset.

20. 8. At 15 o'clock the Sun "draws water". At 16 o'clock, storm from NE to S.

24. 8. At 20.00 o'clock storm in SE until 1 o'clock. 25. 8. At 21.00 heavy storm through midnight till 2 o'clock with

windstorm from E. 26. 8. Rain from 7 - 20 o'clock with storm. 27. 8. At 21.00 storm in ESE to E. 29. 8. Storm at 20.00 with rain.

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20 | Meteorologický časopis, 16, 2013

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