Trees Tell History of Hurricanes

Zina Deretsky, NSF

Researchers are using tree rings to measure hurricane activity from over 200 years ago. Scientists have discovered that trees located in areas that have been hit by hurricanes have different ratios of oxygen isotopes in their rings.

Using tree-ring oxygen analysis, the researchers were able to accurately show when a hurricane hit an area.

Image Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation: The shallow roots of the longleaf pine absorb surface water, which is affected by precipitation. Hurricanes produce large amounts of precipitation with a distinctly lower oxygen isotope composition than that in dew or smaller storms. Tracing tree-rings that contain these lower isotope compositions unveils a record of hurricanes that both supports and surpasses the present historical record. The current study looks at a 220-year-old record and suggests data up to 400 years can be accessed in future studies.

Learn more about this study:

• Tree Rings Provide a 200-Year-Old Hurricane Record National Science Foundation