Water scarcity drove steam power adoption during Industrial Revolution, new research suggests
Published: 16 July 2024
A groundbreaking new reconstruction of 19th-century Britain’s water resources has revealed how limited access to waterpower during the Industrial Revolution.Tara Jonell (GES) is the paper’s lead & corresponding author: “We were fascinated to see for the 1st time that the cooler, drier climate conditions in Britain may have played a role in Cottonopolis’ shift from waterpower towards widespread use of steam power, in addition to the well-understood historical context of the cotton industry boom".