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Paper short abstract

This presentation concerns the coastal population's experiences of weather during the 19th century. A study of diaries in which coastal farmers made regular notes about the impact of weather on everyday life during the changing seasons of the year, as well as collections of 19th century weatherlore.

Paper long abstract

I would like to present the thesis I began working with in the spring of 2025, which deals with people's experiences of weather in maritime environments. In my research, I return to the 19th century to explore the coastal population's experiences of weather using a wide variety of sources. My main interest concerns the diaries in which coastal farmers made regular notes about the impact of the weather on everyday life during the changing seasons of the year. I also explore collections of ‘weatherlore’ from the 19th century. These include stories about heat, cold, rainbows, the northern lights, sunshine, halos, fog and wind from different directions, as well as various types of weather signs in flora and fauna.

I will provide insight into my initial impressions of the archival material. My research questions concern the meaning of weather and coastal farmers' experiences of various weather phenomena. I am also interested in the embodiment of weather and the sensory impressions within the observations and predictions of the weather. Furthermore, I explore the emotions associated with different weather phenomena and the connections between weather and the ritual year that emerge in people's stories. Climate history data suggests that the 19th century was a period of cooling, which meant that winters became longer. I imagine that the coastal farmers' struggle with the climate is reflected in the diaries they left behind and that their stories of an unpredictable weather can give us new perspectives on the encounter with climate change in the Anthropocene.