Study of Old Climate Records Shows That Baghdad Was Quite Chilly a Millennium Ago

By Rebecca Boyle Posted 04.30.2012 at 1:09 pm 12 Comments

Marduk and the Dragon Marduk, chief god of Babylon, probably wishes he had a jacket as he destroys Tiamat, dragon of primeval chaos. Wikpedia

An unexpected cold wave in July 920 sent the people of Baghdad back under their blankets, forcing them to leave their summertime roof beds and go back inside, according to a new study by Spanish researchers. The temperature dropped about 16 degrees F compared to average July temperatures, the study found. That was in 920; there’s no “1” in there.

Arabic historians’ records chronicle life in Baghdad in the Middle Ages, and some of the reports mention the area’s climate. Now scientists have interpreted them for the first time, and found some surprising meteorological events in the areas now known as Iraq and Syria. It used to snow more often, with at least six snowfalls between 902 and 944. (There has been only one snowfall in Baghdad in modern times, on Jan. 11, 2008.) The Arabic historians also recounted droughts, floods, heavy rains and frost, not a common occurrence in the fertile crescent.

The researchers, led by Fernando Domínguez-Castro in the physics department at the University of Extremadura, believe a couple volcanic eruptions in central America could have been to blame for the July 920 cold snap. During some of those nights, temperatures never rose above 64 degrees F — pretty cool for a Baghdad July.

The Guagua Pichincha volcano in Ecuador erupted around 910, and the Ceboruco volcano in Mexico erupted around 930. Eruptions like that have been shown to affect global temperatures. But more evidence is needed to confirm this hypothesis, Domínguez-Castro said.

This is interesting in part because this is a time and a place about which very little is known, the researchers say. But along with their historical significance, these records could help scientists’ understanding of future climates. Knowledge of past trends and abnormalities improves climate models, for instance. Time and again we have seen how old records can paint a fuller picture of our modern lives — in this case, by looking at in the Middle East in the years before the first crusades. The research appears in the journal Weather.

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12 Comments

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04/30/12 at 2:46 pm

I was about to subscribe to the magazine until I saw the picture above and how the editors confuse A Picture that belong to a B.C. Era of that area with the middle ages news! In the 920 A.D. Bagdad was under the abassi rules... I guess even a scientist should have some understanding of history. What next, a picture of mammoth in north america during columbus landing...

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Charismatix 807

04/30/12 at 2:55 pm

An interesting story...but just like the two above me have already mentioned, I take issue with the usage of Tiamat and Mardruk; both which have NOTHING to do with the research!

For that matter, they're from Babylon. I understand that the region is close in terms of geography, but I was under the impression that we were talking about Baghdad...? =/

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Marduk

04/30/12 at 3:23 pm

@Auroria @Mo @Charismatix 807

It displeases Marduk greatly to hear assumptions that he did not have a powerful presence in and influence over the Fertile Crescent as a whole in the year 900. The three of you will sacrifice a dozen goats to my might and power on the night of the first moon of Arah Samna in repentance. Do this, or feel the cut of my unrelenting blade of ancient vengeance just as Tiamat did.

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GMarsack

04/30/12 at 4:57 pm

You are all mistaken. The picture is of Tina the Llama and Napoleon Dynamite. Gosh!

---
In space, no one can hear a tree fall in the forest.

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Ten Gun Kami

05/01/12 at 11:12 am

I enjoy this kind of research.
The scope of the records that were kept during this period are impressive. To think that this part of the world today is in such drastic need of help right now is humbling.
To realize this came from a culture that fostered so many advances in architecture, mathematics, art, science, chemistry, and literature during the Middle Ages and has now been reduced to the drastically under-equipped, narrowly-educated general population that now remain is staggering!
What changes in a culture, or its legacy, that allows for its forward momentum (positive, progressive development) to divert so dramatically?!

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Aldrons Last Hope

05/03/12 at 1:36 pm

“What changes in a culture, or its legacy, that allows for its forward momentum (positive, progressive development) to divert so dramatically?!” The Illegal invasion and occupation, rape and pillage or Iraq maybe? The first thing to go during the invasion was their PRICELESS artifacts from Babylon. Then their oil, and of course we know Americans insatiable appetite for rape and destruction. Really western civilization should really respect all that the middle east has given them, in terms of EVERYTHING, culture, law, math, art etc etc. But you idiots can’t understand that can you, you can’t think past 2 years ago.

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Robot

05/04/12 at 11:13 am

Aldrons Last Hope,
I had to check you login to make sure you were the evil ALH. You not the evil ALH, but wow you do have a bias negative attitude the USA. Is your view a narrow focus for our leaders or do you feel everyone in the USA is like this? Did you not eat breakfast this morning and your electrolytes a little low, prior to posting your comment?

.............................
Science sees no further than what it can sense, i.e. facts.
Religion sees beyond the senses, i.e. faith.
Open your mind and see!

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Aldrons Last Hope

05/04/12 at 1:25 pm

@Robot, LOL…no of course not all Americans are like that, just the Evil government. Most Americans that I know…actually all I guess, are hard working, ethical, family oriented all around great people. But your government doesn’t listen to them (Iraq war, Al Gore stolen election etc.)…they just listen to the corporations that are feasting on the people. It makes me sad that such a great country, is being led down a path of destruction and the sheep are all too happy to let them kill whomever just as long as they get their “mtv”

And then dum dums have the nerve to ask how/ why is Iraq in the state that it is. IDIOTS…take a look at what your government is doing to them…but I doubt you have the stomach for it.

Robot, just google “depleted uranium in Iraq” and read a few articles.

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lousephyr

05/11/12 at 8:08 pm

lets get even more off topic;
doesn't it look like Marduk is wearing a wrist watch;
it's probably just a wrist ornament,
but very uncanny similarity;
could have been 1 of those entangled faster than light time travelers

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