What are organ-tuning books used for by researchers?

Researchers use organ-tuning books as historical records to study changes in environmental conditions like temperature and humidity over time.

How do rising temperatures affect pipe organs?

Rising temperatures can cause the materials in pipe organs to expand and contract, affecting their tuning and the pitch of the notes produced.

Did researchers find evidence of global warming in church organ records?

Yes, the records show a rise in church temperatures, including warmer summers, which researchers suggest might be a hint of global heating.

Home / Science / Church Organ Books Reveal Climate Warming

Church Organ Books Reveal Climate Warming

22 Dec

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Summary

Organ tuning books contain decades of environmental data.
Records show a significant temperature rise in churches.
Organ tuners note effects of temperature and humidity.

Church Organ Books Reveal Climate Warming

Researchers have unearthed valuable environmental data hidden within the notebooks of church organ tuners. These records, dating back to 1966, offer a unique glimpse into changing climatic conditions within church buildings across London, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. Preliminary analysis of 18 such books indicates a consistent rise in average interior temperatures.

This observed warming trend, evident in both summer and winter months, suggests increased artificial heating in churches. More strikingly, it points to warmer summers even when heating systems are off, a phenomenon researchers suggest may hint at global warming. For instance, average summer temperatures in urban churches rose from 17.2C in the late 1960s to 19.8C by the 2020s.

Organ tuners meticulously record temperature and humidity as these factors critically affect the wood and metal components of pipe organs, impacting their tuning. A mere one-degree Celsius shift can alter an organ's pitch significantly. As climate change intensifies, maintaining these majestic instruments globally becomes increasingly challenging, underscoring the importance of these forgotten historical records.