The origins of climatology studies in Turkey conducted by Turkish geographers date back to the 1940s. The Institute of Geography at Istanbul University shaped the development of climatology as a science. Among the Turkish geographers playing a decisive role in this process are Ahmet Ardel, Besim Darkot, Ali Tanoğlu, İbrahim Hakkı Akyol and Sırrı Erinç. In Turkey, the first modern climatology book containing the first systematic and modern information was written by Ardel Darkot (Climatology Courses, 1940). Together with Tanoğlu and Akyol, Darkot pioneered publications in the field between 1943-1945.
Aside from his articles on climatology, Sırrı Erinç published new books (Practical Climatology and Climate Conditions of Turkey) in 1957 and (Climatology and its Methods) in 1962, and Oğuz Erol published his new book (General Climatology) in 1964. Furthermore, in 1965, Erinç developed a new formula on the effectiveness of rain. The climatology studies expanded further in later years. Through their various publications, Turkish geographers such as Ajun Kurter, Yusuf Dönmez, Ayhan Onur Sür, Ahmet Nişancı, Korkut Ata Sungur and Asaf Koçman contributed to climatology and applied climatology.
This article provides a chronological overview of studies on climatology (books, articles, theses) conducted by Turkish geographers in Turkey.
Nurten Günal