AfricaClimateHistory database

One of the major outputs from our work will be a new climate history database for southeast and eastern Africa, spanning 1497 to the 1980s. The database consists of quotations from written documents (mostly narratives, but also some numerical and visual records) and oral histories relating to weather and climate. This includes evidence of weather and climate variability, climate impacts on humans, plants, animals and ecosystems, and responses to climate-related hazards. Quotations are coded by theme, country/region, place and date.

Through co-design with potential end-users beyond academia, our ultimate aim is for the database to form an easily accessible but contextualised record of past climate extremes, knowledge, and material interventions that can inform contemporary climate change adaptation.

Should you wish to contribute data, please get in touch! All contributions will be appropriately credited.