History on Tap: Uncovering Climate Clues From New England Whaling Ship Logbooks

What can the handwritten logbooks of 19th-century whaling ships tell us about today’s changing climate? Through groundbreaking collaborative research, oceanographer Caroline Ummenhofer from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Timothy Walker are uncovering how weather observations recorded aboard New England whaling vessels more than 200 years ago are now helping scientists reconstruct long-term changes in global climate and ocean wind patterns.

Their work draws from thousands of pages of historic whaling logbooks dating from 1790 to 1910, preserved in the collections of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Nantucket Historical Association, and Providence Public Library. Written by sailors traveling across some of the most remote oceans on Earth, these records contain daily notes on wind direction, storms, sea conditions, precipitation, and changing weather patterns—captured decades before modern meteorological instruments and satellites existed.

By transforming these descriptive observations into scientific climate data, researchers are gaining new insight into historical wind systems, ocean circulation, and long-term environmental change. The project demonstrates how maritime history and archival research can directly contribute to modern climate science, offering valuable context for understanding today’s rapidly changing world.

Part of our History on Tap series—join us for an evening of local history, conversation, and craft brews.

Admission: $10 per person / $5 for members

Must be 21+ to sample beer; IDs will be checked at the door.

Enjoy craft beer from our sponsor, Cape Cod Beer, along with cheese, crackers, water, and non-alcoholic beer options.

We highly recommend reserving your tickets on our website in advance. Popular events often sell out quickly, and we cannot always accommodate walk-ins. Don’t miss out—plan and secure your spot!