'In an era of climate change, it is more important than ever to understand our climate and try to reduce and reverse the human causes of extreme climate events' Photo: Portrait of Luke Howard, by John Opie
250th anniversary of Quaker Luke Howard
'Howard’s system for naming clouds is still in use today.'
Friends marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of Luke Howard this month, with activities across his suburb of Tottenham.
The famous Quaker meteorologist, who is well known for his naming of clouds, was remembered by a range of activities organised by the Cloud Appreciation Society,
Howard’s system for naming clouds is still in use today, and he was the first person to observe the urban heat island effect, whereby cities are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas.
The anniversary of the pioneering Quaker, who is buried in Winchmore Hill Meeting House grounds, has also been marked in the local Lordship Recreation Ground, with a new cloud identification board, new solar panels on the ‘Lordship Hub’, and a new Luke Howard Weather Station.
Friends contributed to a crowdfunding project to raise funds for the commemoration.
According to Joan Curtis, who organised the crowdfunder, the Tottenham Cloud Appreciation Society and Friends of Lordship Rec are applying for Lordship Recreation Ground to be named the first official Cloud Appreciation Park in the UK.
Joan Curtis said: ‘Although his book, The Climate of London, is largely concerned with the weather and climate of London, his analysis of temperature records allowed him to detect, describe and analyse the urban heat island phenomenon many decades before others. Now, in an era of climate change, it is more important than ever to understand our climate and try to reduce and reverse the human causes of extreme climate events.’
The event was marked with: celebrations outside Howard’s former house on Bruce Grove; workshops on climate change; and a new exhibition called ‘Every Cloud’ at Bruce Castle Museum until 26 March 2023. Richard Hamblyn, who wrote a biography of Luke Howard, plus a local member of the Howard family, took part in the celebrations.
