blåstidsdagbok

Blåstidsdagbok is a Swedish term that translates roughly to “wind-time diary” or “wind diary.” It describes a log or record kept to document wind conditions, typically including date, wind direction, estimated speed or Beaufort scale, gusts, and notable weather events. Historically, such diaries were kept by mariners, farmers, and local weather observers to monitor local climate patterns and aid navigation and agricultural planning. The concept is not tied to a single standardized format; entries have varied regionally and across time.

Etymology: The term combines blåstid or blåsa, meaning to blow or wind, with dagbok, meaning diary. The idea of recording wind events aligns with broader traditions of meteorological observation that preceded modern automated stations.

Content and methods: A blåstidsdagbok might record daily wind direction, intensity, and any impacts on crops, livestock, sails, or buildings. Some entries note storm occurrences, shifts in wind regimes, or periods of unusually prolonged wind. Observations were often supplemented by notes on temperature, precipitation, and cloud cover, using the observer’s judgment or local measurement tools available at the time.

Significance and modern relevance: As a historical source, wind diaries contribute to reconstruction of past climate variability at local scales and provide qualitative context for historical navigation and rural life. In contemporary usage, the term may also appear in cultural or literary contexts as a metaphor for recording changing conditions.

See also: Weather diary, Meteorological observation, Logbook.