Scientific instruments in the History of Brazilian Meteorology

an analysis of the controversy between Henrique Morize e Américo Silvado (1888-1904)

Abstract

The work analyses the role played by the scientific instruments on the controversy between Henrique Morize e Américo Silvado in the last decade of the eighteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth century. Both of them were representants of the meteorological services of the Rio de Janeiro’s Astronomic Observatory and the Brazilian Navy, respectively. Having the brazilian scientific meteorology’s institutionalization process as a background, the work aims the technical character of the controversy. We consider that the dispute was related to the basic knowledge about the uses and the functioning of the meteorological instruments as an excuse to contest the competence of the adversary as a professional meteorologist.