Vol. 12 (2025): Connecting Oceanic Asia: Production and Application of Meteorological Knowledge

Guest Editors: Xiao Liu and Zhenwu Qiu

This special issue of History of Meteorology focuses on the theme “Connecting Oceanic Asia: Production and Application of Meteorological Knowledge.” It explores the multiple meteorological knowledge systems cultivated within the Asian oceanic region and their evolution through the lenses of meteorological history, intellectual history, and global history. The contributing articles reveal the significant impact on nation-building, production, daily life, disaster response, and more. The papers analyze distinct modes of observation and forecasting that emerged from long-term practices in East, Southeast, and South Asia—systems all deeply rooted in local contexts. The issue also examines how meteorological knowledge underwent translation, selection, adaptation, and reconstruction through cross-cultural encounters, resulting in hybrid forms of knowledge tailored to specific environments and uses. It situates Oceanic Asia within a broader interconnected framework, highlighting the substantial contributions of local wisdom to the development of modern global meteorology. In doing so, it also critically assesses the knowledge-power dynamics underlying the colonial establishment of institutionalized meteorological observation networks. While these networks served imperial interests, and often marginalized local knowledge, they also engaged with local knowledge and integrated it in complex ways. By bringing together these articles, this special issue aims to move beyond Western-centric narratives. It uncovers the multi-centered, multi-dimensional networks through which meteorological knowledge was generated, circulated, and applied in Oceanic Asia. This approach deepens our understanding of both regional characteristics and global connections, ultimately reconstructing the complex historical landscape of meteorological knowledge.