Societas Meteorologica Palatina

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Societas Meteorologica Palatina , also known as the Mannheim Meteorological Society , was founded in 1780 as the 3rd class of the Mannheim Academy of Sciences by Elector Karl Theodor . It was the first society to organize, conduct and publish weather observations worldwide . These data served later meteorologists as an important basis for calculating climate zones and weather maps .

history

From the deed of incorporation:

“The sciences that have a direct impact on human life and daily occupation deserve special consideration, attention and care. For these reasons, His Electoral Highness appreciated the weather theory of their highest protection and made arrangements for daily observations to be made and collected with similar instruments in several important locations of the electoral hereditary lands, also in other regions of Europe and the rest of the world. "

The observers were counted as outside members of the academy. Each observer received standardized measuring instruments, observation instructions and forms for recording the data at the cost of the elector. The Palatine diplomatic post took over the transport of the parcels and letters.

Johann Jakob Hemmer was appointed as the company's first secretary . The company was dissolved after Hemmer died in 1790 and Karl Theodor died in 1799, the Mannheim Palace was damaged by Austrian troops in 1795 and Mannheim fell to Baden in the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss Mannheim.

Measuring instruments and observations

The measuring instruments were 2 thermometers , 1 barometer , 1 hygrometer and a declination needle that had been calibrated and adjusted by Hemmer in Mannheim before they were sent to the observers. The observers were asked to make additional measuring instruments themselves, these were electrometers for measuring air electricity, anemometers, rain gauges and evaporation gauges.

The measurements should be taken at certain times of the day, daily at 7 a.m., 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. These hours were called Mannheim hours in the weather observation . In addition, phenological and nosological observations should be made. This included budding, flowering and fruiting times of plants; Arrival and departure of migratory birds; Appearance of clouds and degree of cloudiness; Changes and diseases in the population. Uniform symbols should be entered in the forms to identify the observations.

Measuring stations

Title page of the Palatina Ephemerides Societatis Meteorologicae Palatinae with the observations from 1789

The measurements were carried out by observers at 39 stations:

  • Germany: Andechs, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Erfurt, Göttingen, Meteorological Observatory Hohenpeißenberg , Ingolstadt, Mannheim, Munich, Regensburg, Sagan (Silesia), Tegernsee, Würzburg, St. Zeno.
  • Austria: Oven, Prague Clementinum
  • Switzerland: Geneva, St. Gotthard
  • Italy: Bologna, Chioggia, Padua, Rome
  • France: Dijon, Marseille, La Rochelle
  • BENELUX: Brussels, Delft, The Hague, Middelburg
  • Scandinavia: Eidsberg (N), Spydeberg (N), Copenhagen, Stockholm
  • Russia: Moscow, Pyschminsk (Urals), St. Petersburg
  • Outside Europe: Godthaab (Greenland), Bradford (MA), Cambridge (MA)

The results were collected and published promptly in the ephemeris under the editorship of Hemmer. The ephemeris appeared from 1783 to 1795.

Reasons for the success of the Societas Meteorologica Palatina

  1. The instruments were supplied to the observers free of charge
  2. Uniform, calibrated and adjusted instruments were used for observation
  3. Instructions for the use of the instruments were created centrally
  4. Uniform, fixed times were determined for the measurements
  5. The records were made on standardized forms
  6. The weather observations were designated with uniform symbols
  7. The data was collected by an editorial team and published promptly.

literature

  • Alexander Moutchnik : Research and teaching in the second half of the 18th century. The natural scientist and university professor Christian Mayer SJ (1719-1783) . (Algorism, Studies on the History of Mathematics and Natural Sciences; Vol. 54). Erwin Rauner Verlag, Augsburg 2006, ISBN 3-936905-16-9 ( table of contents, PDF )
  • Gerhard Bauer, Kai Budde, Wilhelm Kreutz, Patrick Schäfer (ed. On behalf of Academia Domitor - Study Forum Johann Jakob Hemmer eV): "Di fernunft siget". The universal scholar of the Electoral Palatinate, Johann Jakob Hemmer (1733-1790) and his work (= Yearbook for International German Studies. Series A, Congress Reports, Volume 103). Peter Lang, Bern 2010, ISBN 978-3-0343-0445-0 .
  • Societas Meteorologica Palatina (ed.): Ephemerides Societatis Meteorologicae Palatinae. observationes anni 1789 (PDF; 32.4 MB) . Mannheim 1793.