Documentary evidence of historical floods and extreme rainfall events in Sweden 1400–1800

摘要

This article explores documentary evidence of floods and extreme rainfallevents in Sweden in the pre-instrumental period (1400–1800). The surveyshows that two sub-periods can be considered as flood-rich, 1590–1670 andthe early 18th century. The result related to a low degree of humanimpact on hydrology during the period, suggests that climatic factors, suchas lower temperatures and increased precipitation connected to the so-calledLittle Ice Age rather than large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns,should be considered as the main driver behind flood frequency and magnitude.