Atmospheric Sciences Seminar

January 18, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Mānoa Campus, Marine Sciences Building, MSB 100

Professor Steven Businger of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences leads a seminar on The Hurricane of 1871.

High literacy rates among Native Hawaiians in the 19th century and publication of more than 100 Hawaiian language newspapers from 1834 to 1948 produced the largest archive of indigenous writing in the western hemisphere.

These newspapers extend our knowledge of historical environmental events and natural disasters back into the early 19th century and deeper into pre-contact times. Articles reporting observations of meteorological events allowed us to reconstruct the track and intensity of an 1871 hurricane that brought devastation to Hawaiʻi and Maui and to discern historical patterns of droughts and floods in Hawaiʻi. These findings illustrate the value of Hawaiian language newspapers as resources for science research and science education.

Refreshments: 3:00pm at the MSB courtyard – Free Cookies, Coffee & Tea Provided (please bring your own cup)


Event Sponsor
SOEST Atmospheric Sciences, Mānoa Campus

More Information
956-8775, SEE FLYER (PDF)

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