 Tempest in a tree ring: Paleotempestology and the record of past hurricanes

Abstract

Tropical cyclones can have devastating economic impact on U.S. coastal communities, yet the full range of their natural variability is not yet known.A more definitive understanding of tropical cyclone (i.e., hurricane) frequency, intensity and response to global climate change requires an understanding of their behavior over several millennia. The developing field of paleotempestology promises to add the perspective of time to current debate on the recent increase in tropical cyclone activity and intensity.