Monster Hurricanes May Impact New England More Frequently as Temperatures Warm

Monster hurricanes may be in our future. Scientists have examined the past of hurricane activity, and have found that it was particularly active during warmer ocean temperatures, similar to the levels that we may expect in coming centuries with climate change.

In order to better understand our Earth's past climate, the researchers analyzed sediment deposits from Cape Cod. This revealed evidence of intense hurricanes, possibly more powerful than any storms New England has experienced in recorded history, that pounded the region from about 250 AD to 1150.

In fact, the researchers found that 23 severe hurricanes hit New England during this time period. This is equivalent to a severe storm about once every 40 years. Many of these were likely a category 3 storm, like Hurricane Katrina, or a category 4 storm, like Hugo. These storms would be catastrophic if they hit the region today.

"The study shows that our region has been prone to storms of far greater magnitude than those impacting the area over the past century," said John Woodruff, one of the researchers, in a news release. "With so many more people, structures, roads and bridges in place now, we should begin to design and plan for these higher-magnitude events."

The researchers found that high hurricane activity continued in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico until about 1400, though there was a lull during this time in New England. A shift in hurricane activity in the North Atlantic occurred around 1400 when activity picked up from the Bahamas to New England until about 1675.

"The large changes in the pollen reflecting clearing of the landscape and the introduction of European agricultural plants helped identify age way-points along with other dating techniques, to clearly identify hurricanes recorded in western records, especially the Colonial storms of 1635 and 1675," said Dana MacDonald, one of the researchers.

The findings reveal a bit more about how hurricanes have impacted the region in the past and may also impact the area in the future.

The findings are published in the journal Earth's Future.

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).