Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Scientific Correspondence
  • Published:

Global impact of the 1789-93 El Niño

Abstract

It has been suggested that global warming has caused the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climatic events to become more frequent and intense. However, several ENSO events that occurred before 1880 had effects at least as intense and wide-ranging as those associated with the current event. This is the case particularly for the events in 1396 (ref. 1), 1685-88, 1789-93 and 1877-79. Here I discuss archival evidence, notably from South Asia and above all for the 1789-93 ENSO, for the strength of these historical effects.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Duff, J. C. G., A History of the Mahrattas Vol. 1, 50 (Murray, London, 1826).

  2. Char les, C. D. Science 277, 925–928 ( 1997).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Beatson, A. Tracts on the Island of St Helena, 10 (Black, London, 1816).

  4. Roxburgh, W. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. 68, 180–190 (1778); 80, 112-113(1790).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Roxburgh, W. MS Report to the President's Council Dated 6 February, in East India Company Boards Collections, ref. no. F/4/99 (British Library India Office Library and Records, London, 1793).

  6. Quinn, W. H., Neal, V. T. & Antunez de Mayolo, S. E. J Geophys. Res. 92, 14449– 14461 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  7. The Madras Courier. 3 November, 1 (1791).

  8. Nicholls, N. Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 69, 4–7 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Endfield, G. & O'Hara, S. Environment and History 3, 4–22 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  10. McKealy, W. Petition on Behalf of the Council of Montserrat. Dated 13 August, in Montserrat Legislative Assembly Proceedings (Government Archives, Crown Colony of Montserrat, British West Indies, 1791).

  11. Hall, M. Ann. Natal Museum 702 (1976).

  12. Davies, A., History 49, 37–38 ( 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Dugam, S. S. et al. Theor. Appl. Meteorol. 58, 21– 29 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Normand, C. Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc. 79, 463– 473 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Roxburgh, W. Letter to Sir Henry Oakley. Dated 23 January, in East India Company Boards Collections, ref. no. F/4/99, 29 (British Library India Office Library and Records, London, 1793).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Grove, R. Global impact of the 1789-93 El Niño. Nature 393, 318–319 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/30636

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/30636

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing