There would be no happiness, but misfortune helped: the industrial revolution in England began due to drought (3 photos)

Nowadays, everyone is concerned about climate change, complaining about worsening living standards. History remembers examples when climatic problems motivated people to adapt.





Scottish scientists studied weather records from the 1800s years, after which they came to the conclusion that England switched to steam energy due to the frequent droughts in those days.



Initially, scientists believed that steam energy displaced hydropower due to cheap cost. But really, it's just part of the reason. In addition to the greater introduction of steam engines the British were led by the depletion of "working" rivers. However, recent studies Scottish scientists also refute this hypothesis. Water level changes due to the decrease in precipitation led to the fact that industry and agriculture the economy could stop for several weeks. They also interfered floods that systematically occurred in autumn.



Due to the fact that hydropower was used by large industries many industries, the problem was very large-scale — the entire economy could collapse. This circumstance accelerated the transition to steam energy, leading to the industrial revolution.