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News Release 06-131
Tree Rings Provide a 200-Year-Old Hurricane Record
Information extends analyses of weather cycles, human impact
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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 surpases 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.
Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation
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