Overview of the Studies on Climate Change during the Historical Period

Abstract

Recent studies on climate change during the historical period are reviewed in this paper. Firstly, methods, limitations and materials for reconstructing past climates are summarized. Historic diaries and old documents are useful particularly for the period of the past 500 years. Some indices for expressing the climatic conditions found in the historic materials are introduced. Historic documents and materials found in China since 4,000 BP were published in 2004. On the other hand, daily weather data at several stations for the 15 and 16 centuries in Japan were published in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Secondly, the“ Little hypsithermal（ warm） period” during the period from the 4th century to the 10th century is described. In the final part of the present paper, examples of an ancient central government in Japan, planning of Heijoukyou （an old center of government）, settlements developed on the Boso Peninsula, Chiba, Japan, and parallel activities in Southeast Asia are discussed in relation to the changing climate during the “Little climatic optimum” from the 8th century to 9th century, which was the peak of the“ Little hypsithermal（ warm） period”. It is pointed out that the changes were roughly in parallel.