Warnings from the Weather Watchers: The Manila Observatory, the Royal Observatory Hong Kong, and Early 20th Century Networks of Meteorological Communications

The Department of History invites you to the Thesis Defense of

Bianca Angelien A. Claveria, MA of Arts, Major in History (Cand.)

Entitled

Warnings from the Weather Watchers: The Manila Observatory, the Royal Observatory Hong Kong, and Early 20th Century Networks of Meteorological Communications

Adviser:
David O Lozada III, PhD

Panelists:
Dr Gregory Edward Alexis Bankoff
Dr Ma. Aileen Leah G Guzman
Dr Michael D Pante

Date :  30 March 2022 (Wednesday)

Time :  5:00 pm (Zoom)

Abstract

With its focus on modern and contemporary periods in history, a transnational framework considers the movements of people and ideas, and the existence of connections beyond the confines of national boundaries. Adopting a transnational framework in the study of the histories and development of colonial meteorological observatories, inspires historical narratives that broadly consider varied experiences and contexts. Recent historiographies on 19th and 20th century meteorology have considered the roles of technological advancements and instrumentation in the production and communication of meteorological knowledge. They have also assessed the varied influences of political, religious, military, agricultural, and commercial interests towards the practical purposes of meteorology.

Collaborative by nature, early 20th century colonial meteorological observatories such as the Manila Observatory and the Royal Observatory, Hong Kong, significantly benefited from the exchanges of meteorological information and the development of networks of communication within and beyond the confines of their respective institutions.  A survey of their meteorological reports, bulletins, and scientific publications revealed notable references to (and at times reliance on) the typhoon warnings and weather forecasts produced and communicated by either observatories, and by neighboring observatories and stations that dotted the Western North Pacific region. However, the methods and systems employed by each observatory in the production and communication of meteorological information and typhoon warnings reflected distinctions and differences rather than standardization and uniformity.

The Manila Observatory and the Royal Observatory, Hong Kong were in countries located in proximity to each other, which were also similarly situated within a historically known typhoon-ridden region. Yet their institutional experiences and local responses to typhoons during the late 19th century to the early 20th century reveal narratives of dynamic local, regional, and international networks of meteorological communication colored by experiences of collaboration, conflict, and compromise. This research seeks to argue that exposure to typhoons in the region motivated collaborative inter-colonial networks of meteorological communications between the observatories in Manila and Hong Kong. However, locally-bound typhoon warning systems influenced these networks with encounters of conflict and compromise. Through the themes of collaboration, conflict, and compromise, this research perceived the two meteorological observatories not only as the means developed before to understand and adapt to the erratic phenomena in the heavens above, but also as troves of varied historical narratives on the interactions and experiences of the people on the ground.

Parties who are interested in attending the defense may send an email to history.soss@ateneo.edu for the Zoom link.