The contribution of the Astronomical Society of Barcelona in the dissemination of meteorological observations in Catalonia (1910-1923)

The Astronomical Society of Barcelona (1910-1923) was founded with the main objective of developing and spreading the scientific knowledge in Barcelona and Catalonia. During the first years, the astronomical studies were the most common, but little by little the meteorological observation became the priority, leaving knowledge of great climatic interest for the following researchers. Thanks to the impulse of their members and contributors, the Catalan meteorological network increased to the number of 224 observatories in 1918, methods of observation and rules for weather instrument installation were suggested, and the meteorology became popular amongst the population. In this paper, the role played by this Society in the establishment and extension of the Catalan Rainfall Network is analysed through the detailed study of one hundred bulletins published. Certainly, it was the densest network in Spain during the first decades of the 20th century, and has left its mark on the present.