Alexander von Humboldt - 250 and Climate Change
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Alexander von Humboldt. Born in 1769 in Berlin, Germany, Alexander von Humboldt was a Prussian scientist, explorer and naturalist. During the 19th century he was one of the most celebrated scientist in the world. At the celebrations to mark the centenary of Humboldt's birth Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Humboldt was one of those wonders of the world, like Aristotle, like Julius Cæsar, like the Admirable Crichton, who appear from time to time, as if to show us the possibilities of the human mind, the force and the range of the faculties,—a universal man, not only possessed of great particular talents, but they were symmetrical, his parts were well put together."
From 1799-1804 Humboldt explored the Canary Islands, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, the United State, Columbia, Peru and Ecuador. His explorations are sometimes known as the second discovery of America. Unlike some of the earlier explorers, Humboldt was not interested in searching for gold or wealth, but was interested in gathering knowledge of lands he visited and the inhabitants he met. Equipped with the latest scientific instruments, he made observations, measurements, and collected plants and animals which were sent back to Europe for further study. His findings were published in a series of large folio volumes known as Voyage aux régions équinoxiales du Nouveau Continent fait en 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 et 1804, par Al. de Humboldt et A. Bonpland.
Chimborazo, Humboldt and Climate Change
Chimborazo at 20,564 ft isn't the highest mountain on Earth, but during the 18th century Chimborazo was considered the highest point on earth. In 1802 Humboldt and Aime Bonpland while exploring Ecuador climbed Chimborazo and reached an altitude of 19,000 feet before turning back. Some of the observations made and data collected during the ascent of Chimborazo and other Andean mountains was published in the book Essai sur la géographie des plantes (Essay on the Geography of Plants). In this book Humboldt was one of the first draw an analogy between the latitude and altitude at which plants grow.
In 2012 a team of scientist used the data collected by Humboldt and Bonpland to study the effect of climate change in the tropics. The scientists recorded the current distribution of plants and tested for upward shifts of vegetation and compared it to the data that Humboldt's expedition had collected over two hundred years ago. The comparison of observations showed that since 1802 there has been a upward shift of upper vegetation of more than 500m. The results show that in a relatively short time frame climate change has changed the distribution of plants in the tropics.
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| Detroit Publishing Company. Humboldt Statue, West Park, Pittsburgh, PA (Taken between 1900 - 1920) Source: Library of Congress |
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| Le Chimborazo vu depuis le Plateau de Tapial Source: Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (Paris) |
Chimborazo at 20,564 ft isn't the highest mountain on Earth, but during the 18th century Chimborazo was considered the highest point on earth. In 1802 Humboldt and Aime Bonpland while exploring Ecuador climbed Chimborazo and reached an altitude of 19,000 feet before turning back. Some of the observations made and data collected during the ascent of Chimborazo and other Andean mountains was published in the book Essai sur la géographie des plantes (Essay on the Geography of Plants). In this book Humboldt was one of the first draw an analogy between the latitude and altitude at which plants grow.
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| Humboldt't data on the left and current observations on the right. © Morueta-Holme, et al |
In 2012 a team of scientist used the data collected by Humboldt and Bonpland to study the effect of climate change in the tropics. The scientists recorded the current distribution of plants and tested for upward shifts of vegetation and compared it to the data that Humboldt's expedition had collected over two hundred years ago. The comparison of observations showed that since 1802 there has been a upward shift of upper vegetation of more than 500m. The results show that in a relatively short time frame climate change has changed the distribution of plants in the tropics.
Additional Information
Strong upslope shifts in Chimborazo's vegetation over two centuries since Humboldt - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Personal narrative of travels to the equinoctial regions of America, during the years 1799–1804/ by Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland; translated from the French of Alexander von Humboldt and edited by Thomasina Ross (vols 2 & 3)
Humboldt im Netz. International Journal for Humboldt Studies (German, English, French, Spanish) - Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
Field Museum - Chicago - Berlin Negatives (Search for Humboldt to see a sample of plants collected) - Field Museum of Natural History
Voyage aux régions équinoxiales du Nouveau Continent fait en 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 et 1804, par Al. de Humboldt et A. Bonpland, rédigé par Alexandre de Humboldt.... Tome 1 - 13 (French) - Bibliothèque nationale de France
Humboldt im Netz. International Journal for Humboldt Studies (German, English, French, Spanish) - Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
Field Museum - Chicago - Berlin Negatives (Search for Humboldt to see a sample of plants collected) - Field Museum of Natural History
Voyage aux régions équinoxiales du Nouveau Continent fait en 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 et 1804, par Al. de Humboldt et A. Bonpland, rédigé par Alexandre de Humboldt.... Tome 1 - 13 (French) - Bibliothèque nationale de France
