Articles | Volume 19, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1307-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1307-2015
Research article
 | 
09 Mar 2015
Research article |  | 09 Mar 2015

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

D. Retsö

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