Extended Abstract (44K)17C.5
Hurricanes from Spanish documentary sources: an update
Ricardo García-Herrera, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; and L. Gimeno, P. Ribera, and E. Hernandez
There are abundant chronologies of hurricanes in the Atlantic basin; they are mostly based on sources kept in the Americas. However, Spanish official documents from the Caribbean region have been poorly explored yet. They are a rich source of information on hurricanes for the years following the establishment of the Spanish colonies. Some of these papers are from as early as the sixteenth century. They usually refer to hurricanes or intense storms and describe damages in lives and property. For Cuba and Puerto Rico, in particular, there are records covering more than four hundred years (approximately 1500-1898). Of special interest are the Reports of the General Navy Command of the Antilles, the Gazetas and other periodic publications, such as the Partes de tranquilidad (included in the Papeles de Cuba section of the Archivo General de Indias –AGI-, at Seville, Spain), the monthly papers produced by the authorities, or the reports from the Meteorological Services established in the area during the 19th century.
This paper describes the results obtained after two years work at the AGI. Though the task can be considered as very time consuming, the results are highly rewarding. We have obtained more than 400 references to hurricanes and intense storms in the Atlantic basin for the period 1502-1895. They are useful in two ways: a) they provide information on hurricanes which had not been previously recorded and b) they provide information from independent sources on previously reported hurricanes. Thus, they help to complete pre-existing chronologies and to obtain better reanalysis of previously known hurricanes.
Notwithstanding this, neither the documents kept in the AGI, nor those kept in other Spanish relevant archives have been completely exhausted yet. More effort is still needed to completely abstract these sources. Only their complete abstraction will guarantee the obtention of the best hurricane chronology".
Session 17C, Tropical cyclone best track and climatology II
Friday, 7 May 2004, 10:15 AM-12:00 PM, Napoleon II Room
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