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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

06:10
Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions
Published on: March 31, 2023
[Constructing climate. From classical climatology to modern climate research]
1Department of Science Studies, University of Aarhus. matthias.heymann@ivs.au.dk
NTM
|October 24, 2009
Summary
The concept of climate evolved significantly from the 19th to the 20th century. Initially viewed as stable and place-based, climate is now understood as dynamic, global, and centered on climate change.
Area of Science:
- Historical analysis of climate science concepts.
- Interdisciplinary approach combining history and climate science.
Context:
- Traditional view of climate as a stable, well-defined category.
- 19th and 20th-century scientific understanding of climate.
Purpose:
- To challenge the flawed conception of climate as static.
- To investigate the conceptual shifts in climate science.
- To trace the origins and impacts of these changes.
Summary:
- Climate evolved from a timeless, spatial concept to a spaceless, temporal one.
- 19th-century climate: stable, regional, focused on environmental impact.
- 20th-century climate: dynamic, global, focused on human impact and climate change.
Impact:
- Provides a more comprehensive perspective on climate research history.
- Highlights the dynamic nature of scientific concepts.
- Informs contemporary understanding of climate change research.
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