Assessing historical snowfall patterns in Seoul from 1625 to 1907 CE in relation to the Grand Solar Minima

The Sun is the primary energy source driving the Earth's climate system. A prevailing hypothesis suggests that even minor variations in solar activity, when amplified by climate system feedback mechanisms, can induce significant climatic changes on decadal to centennial timescales. However, the...

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Main Authors: YuQi Wang, Yong Wei, Feng Shi, ZhongHua Yao, ShiLing Yang, Wei Lin, LiMei Yan, Fei He, DaBang Jiang, XinAn Yue, Kai Fan, Si Chen, YaoChen Yue
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Science Press 2025-07-01
Series:Earth and Planetary Physics
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Online Access:http://www.eppcgs.org/article/doi/10.26464/epp2025022?pageType=en
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author YuQi Wang
Yong Wei
Feng Shi
ZhongHua Yao
ShiLing Yang
Wei Lin
LiMei Yan
Fei He
DaBang Jiang
XinAn Yue
Kai Fan
Si Chen
YaoChen Yue
author_facet YuQi Wang
Yong Wei
Feng Shi
ZhongHua Yao
ShiLing Yang
Wei Lin
LiMei Yan
Fei He
DaBang Jiang
XinAn Yue
Kai Fan
Si Chen
YaoChen Yue
author_sort YuQi Wang
collection DOAJ
description The Sun is the primary energy source driving the Earth's climate system. A prevailing hypothesis suggests that even minor variations in solar activity, when amplified by climate system feedback mechanisms, can induce significant climatic changes on decadal to centennial timescales. However, the limited availability of historical winter climate proxies has impeded consensus on how solar variability influences the long-term winter climate in Northeast Asia, particularly during Grand Solar Minima (GMs). In this study, we analyzed daily-resolution snowfall records in Seoul from 1625 to 1907 CE, derived from the Korean official historical chronicle Seungjeongweon Ilgi. This period encompasses both the Maunder Minimum (1645–1715 CE) and the Dalton Minimum (1790–1830 CE) of solar activity. Our findings indicate that during the GMs, the first date of annual snowfall (FDS) was delayed by approximately 10 days, and the average annual snowfall frequency (ASF) was reduced by half compared to non-GM periods. Additionally, while an 11-year solar cycle was evident in the ASF during non-GM periods, this cycle was replaced by a shortened 8- to 9-year cycle during the GMs. These variations suggest a differential regional climatic response to prolonged changes in solar activity, and provide historical insights that enhance our understanding of the potential impact of low solar activity on the winter climate in Northeast Asia.
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spelling doaj-art-afb7f085d40e44d3bb81edcb27aea9c72025-08-20T03:50:11ZengScience PressEarth and Planetary Physics2096-39552025-07-019490491410.26464/epp2025022RA558-wangyuqi-FAssessing historical snowfall patterns in Seoul from 1625 to 1907 CE in relation to the Grand Solar MinimaYuQi Wang0Yong Wei1Feng Shi2ZhongHua Yao3ShiLing Yang4Wei Lin5LiMei Yan6Fei He7DaBang Jiang8XinAn Yue9Kai Fan10Si Chen11YaoChen Yue12Center for Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaCenter for Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Lithospheric and Environmental Coevolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaDepartment of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, ChinaCollege of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaCenter for Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaCenter for Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaCenter for Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaCenter for Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaCenter for Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaCenter for Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, ChinaThe Sun is the primary energy source driving the Earth's climate system. A prevailing hypothesis suggests that even minor variations in solar activity, when amplified by climate system feedback mechanisms, can induce significant climatic changes on decadal to centennial timescales. However, the limited availability of historical winter climate proxies has impeded consensus on how solar variability influences the long-term winter climate in Northeast Asia, particularly during Grand Solar Minima (GMs). In this study, we analyzed daily-resolution snowfall records in Seoul from 1625 to 1907 CE, derived from the Korean official historical chronicle Seungjeongweon Ilgi. This period encompasses both the Maunder Minimum (1645–1715 CE) and the Dalton Minimum (1790–1830 CE) of solar activity. Our findings indicate that during the GMs, the first date of annual snowfall (FDS) was delayed by approximately 10 days, and the average annual snowfall frequency (ASF) was reduced by half compared to non-GM periods. Additionally, while an 11-year solar cycle was evident in the ASF during non-GM periods, this cycle was replaced by a shortened 8- to 9-year cycle during the GMs. These variations suggest a differential regional climatic response to prolonged changes in solar activity, and provide historical insights that enhance our understanding of the potential impact of low solar activity on the winter climate in Northeast Asia.http://www.eppcgs.org/article/doi/10.26464/epp2025022?pageType=enhistorical recordsgrand solar minimasolar activityregional snowfall
spellingShingle YuQi Wang
Yong Wei
Feng Shi
ZhongHua Yao
ShiLing Yang
Wei Lin
LiMei Yan
Fei He
DaBang Jiang
XinAn Yue
Kai Fan
Si Chen
YaoChen Yue
Assessing historical snowfall patterns in Seoul from 1625 to 1907 CE in relation to the Grand Solar Minima
Earth and Planetary Physics
historical records
grand solar minima
solar activity
regional snowfall
title Assessing historical snowfall patterns in Seoul from 1625 to 1907 CE in relation to the Grand Solar Minima
title_full Assessing historical snowfall patterns in Seoul from 1625 to 1907 CE in relation to the Grand Solar Minima
title_fullStr Assessing historical snowfall patterns in Seoul from 1625 to 1907 CE in relation to the Grand Solar Minima
title_full_unstemmed Assessing historical snowfall patterns in Seoul from 1625 to 1907 CE in relation to the Grand Solar Minima
title_short Assessing historical snowfall patterns in Seoul from 1625 to 1907 CE in relation to the Grand Solar Minima
title_sort assessing historical snowfall patterns in seoul from 1625 to 1907 ce in relation to the grand solar minima
topic historical records
grand solar minima
solar activity
regional snowfall
url http://www.eppcgs.org/article/doi/10.26464/epp2025022?pageType=en
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