By Saltuk Duran (İstanbul Technical University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Sociology)
Studies in Ottoman Science 25, 2 (2024): 369-399
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/3438813
Abstract
During the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in Europe and North America, meteorology evolved into modern science with a primary focus on enhancing navigational safety and agricultural productivity. This scientific advancement found its way into the publications of the Ottoman Navy, which aimed to educate sailors. These publications disseminated contemporary theoretical and practical information on weather monitoring, which complemented traditional observational methods of natural phenomena that seafarers had already used since ancient times. Simultaneously, ancient astrometeorological sources persisted into the 20th century. Although there are no tangible traces of their use by sailors, these traditions included meteorological predictions at sea, serving either symbolic or popular purposes. From the publications of the Ottoman Navy to astrometeorological sources, this paper aims to present a bibliographical survey of maritime weather monitoring with a particular emphasis on the intersection of modern scientific advancements and traditional knowledge in the field of maritime meteorology.