DOCSLIB.ORG

Determining the Viability of Recent Storms As Modern Analogues For

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Determining the Viability of Recent Storms As Modern Analogues For The University of Southern Mississippi The Aquila Digital Community Master's Theses Summer 8-2016 Determining the Viability of Recent Storms as Modern Analogues for North-Central Gulf of Mexico Paleotempestology Through Sedimentary Analysis and Storm Surge Reconstruction Joshua Caleb Bregy University of Southern Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses Part of the Atmospheric Sciences Commons, Climate Commons, Geology Commons, Geomorphology Commons, Oceanography Commons, Other Earth Sciences Commons, Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons, Sedimentology Commons, and the Stratigraphy Commons Recommended Citation Bregy, Joshua Caleb, "Determining the Viability of Recent Storms as Modern Analogues for North-Central Gulf of Mexico Paleotempestology Through Sedimentary Analysis and Storm Surge Reconstruction" (2016). Master's Theses. 198. https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/198 This Masters Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DETERMINING THE VIABILITY OF RECENT STORMS AS MODERN ANALOGUES FOR NORTH-CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO PALEOTEMPESTOLOGY THROUGH SEDIMENTARY ANALYSIS AND STORM SURGE RECONSTRUCTION by Joshua Caleb Bregy A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School and the Department of Marine Science at The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Approved: ________________________________________________ Dr. Davin J. Wallace, Committee Chair Assistant Professor, Marine Science ________________________________________________ Dr. Vernon L. Asper, Committee Member Professor, Marine Science ________________________________________________ Dr. Grant L. Harley, Committee Member Assistant Professor, Geography and Geology ________________________________________________ Dr. Karen S. Coats Dean of the Graduate School August 2016 COPYRIGHT BY Joshua Caleb Bregy 2016 Published by the Graduate School ABSTRACT DETERMINING THE VIABILITY OF RECENT STORMS AS MODERN ANALOGUES FOR NORTH-CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO PALEOTEMPESTOLOGY THROUGH SEDIMENTARY ANALYSIS AND STORM SURGE RECONSTRUCTION by Joshua Caleb Bregy August 2016 The northern Gulf of Mexico has been devastated by recent intense storms. Camille (1969) and Katrina (2005) are two notable hurricanes that made landfall in virtually the same location in Mississippi. However, fully understanding the risks and processes associated with hurricane impacts is impeded by a short and fragmented instrumental record. Paleotempestology could potentially use modern analogues from intense storms in this region to extend the hurricane record back to pre-observational time. Existing empirically-based models can back-calculate surge heights over coastal systems as a function of transport distance, particle settling velocity, and gravitational acceleration. We collected cores in a pond (3) and adjacent beach (1) in Hancock County, Mississippi. Loss-on-ignition and grain-size analyses were conducted on cores in the context of a Bayesian statistical age model using 137Cs and 14C dating. Using Camille/Katrina to calibrate the archive, similar coarse-grained deposits were identified, and inverse sediment transport models calculated paleosurge intensities similar in magnitude to Camille over the 2500 year record. However, these are conservative estimates, as the shoreline was further seaward from its modern location approximately ii 700 yr BP. Our multi-millennial annual average landfall probability (0.48%) closely matches previously published studies from the Gulf of Mexico, indicating that intense hurricanes have not varied over these timescales. Over centennial timescales, active intervals occurred between 900 to 600 and 2200 to 1900 yr BP, and quiescence between 1900 to 900 yr BP. Comparison with previously published sites suggests southerly shifts in the Loop Current may be responsible for regional variability. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I would like to express my gratitude to my committee chair, Dr. Davin Wallace, and my other committee members, Drs. Vernon Asper and Grant Harley. Their constant guidance and support throughout the duration of both this research and my time at the University of Southern Mississippi have been invaluable resources. They have helped me discovered my niche in the scientific community, and as I take the next step in my career, I am sincerely grateful for the pivotal role my committee has played. Second, I would like to thank the individuals that helped either in the field, the lab, or while writing this manuscript. Dr. Davin Wallace, Justin Blancher, Clayton Dike, and Victoria Young: I appreciate your help with fieldwork, either by actually collecting cores or loaning equipment to me that made fieldwork possible. Valerie Cruz: Thank you for answering my constant questions regarding the instruments in the lab. I also want to thank Kelsey Kuykendall and Dr. Eric Powell for their expertise in bivalve taxonomy, which was useful for a shell valve found in one of my cores. Finally, I want to thank Jesse Chambliss and Kaitlin Doucette for proofreading my manuscript. Finally, I would like to thank the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources for granting me a sampling permit and the National Academy of Sciences for providing funding. iv DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my loved ones, friends and family alike, all of whom have been an unwavering source of support and guidance. Without them, I would not be who I am today. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS .............................................................................................. x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................ xi CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1.2 Storm Sediment Dynamics and Characteristics ................................................. 5 1.1.2.1 Landfalling hurricane processes. ................................................................ 5 1.1.2.2 Transport and sediment characteristics. ...................................................... 8 1.1.2.3 Tempestite formation and preservation. ..................................................... 9 1.1.3 Numerical Models ............................................................................................ 11 1.1.3.1 Inverse modeling. ...................................................................................... 11 1.1.3.2 SLOSH model. .......................................................................................... 14 1.1.4 Study Goals ...................................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER II - METHODOLOGY .................................................................................. 17 2.1 Study Sites .............................................................................................................. 17 vi 2.2 Fieldwork ................................................................................................................ 19 2.3 Sample Analysis...................................................................................................... 20 2.3.1 Loss-on-ignition (LOI)..................................................................................... 20 2.3.2 Percent coarse .................................................................................................. 21 2.3.3 Grain-size Analysis .......................................................................................... 21 2.3.4 Radiometric Dating .......................................................................................... 22 2.3.4.1 Cesium-137 dating. ................................................................................... 22 2.3.4.2 Radiocarbon dating. .................................................................................. 22 2.3.5 Bacon age-depth model.................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER III - RESULTS ............................................................................................... 25 3.1 Core Descriptions.................................................................................................... 25 3.1.1 Silver Slipper West .......................................................................................... 25 3.1.2 Silver Slipper Beach ........................................................................................ 26 3.2 Lithological Analysis .............................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Multi-Scale, Multi-Proxy Investigation of Late Holocene Tropical Cyclone Activity in the Western North Atlantic Basin
    Multi-Scale, Multi-Proxy Investigation of Late Holocene Tropical Cyclone Activity in the Western North Atlantic Basin François Oliva Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctorate of Philosophy in Geography Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics Faculty of Arts University of Ottawa Supervisors: Dr. André E. Viau Dr. Matthew C. Peros Thesis Committee: Dr. Luke Copland Dr. Denis Lacelle Dr. Michael Sawada Dr. Francine McCarthy © François Oliva, Ottawa, Canada, 2017 Abstract Paleotempestology, the study of past tropical cyclones (TCs) using geological proxy techniques, is a growing discipline that utilizes data from a broad range of sources. Most paleotempestological studies have been conducted using “established proxies”, such as grain-size analysis, loss-on-ignition, and micropaleontological indicators. More recently researchers have been applying more advanced geochemical analyses, such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanning and stable isotopic geochemistry to generate new paleotempestological records. This is presented as a four article-type thesis that investigates how changing climate conditions have impacted the frequency and paths of tropical cyclones in the western North Atlantic basin on different spatial and temporal scales. The first article (Chapter 2; Oliva et al., 2017, Prog Phys Geog) provides an in-depth and up-to- date literature review of the current state of paleotempestological studies in the western North Atlantic basin. The assumptions, strengths and limitations of paleotempestological studies are discussed. Moreover, this article discusses innovative venues for paleotempestological research that will lead to a better understanding of TC dynamics under future climate change scenarios.
    [Show full text]
  • Reconstruction of Prehistoric Landfall Frequencies of Catastrophic Hurricanes in Northwestern Florida from Lake Sediment Records
    Quaternary Research 54, 238–245 (2000) doi:10.1006/qres.2000.2166, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on Reconstruction of Prehistoric Landfall Frequencies of Catastrophic Hurricanes in Northwestern Florida from Lake Sediment Records Kam-biu Liu Department of Geography and Anthropology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 and Miriam L. Fearn Department of Earth Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688 Received December 10, 1998 proxy record of catastrophic hurricane strikes during the late Sediment cores from Western Lake provide a 7000-yr record of Holocene (Liu and Fearn, 1993). Lake Shelby is the only coastal environmental changes and catastrophic hurricane land- available millennial record of catastrophic hurricane landfalls falls along the Gulf Coast of the Florida Panhandle. Using Hur- for the Gulf of Mexico coast. Here we present a new, high- ricane Opal as a modern analog, we infer that overwash sand resolution record that spans the past 7000 yr from the Gulf layers occurring near the center of the lake were caused by cata- Coast of northwestern Florida. strophic hurricanes of category 4 or 5 intensity. Few catastrophic hurricanes struck the Western Lake area during two quiescent periods 3400–5000 and 0–1000 14C yr B.P. The landfall probabil- THE STUDY SITE ities increased dramatically to ca. 0.5% per yr during an “hyper- active” period from 1000–3400 14C yr B.P., especially in the first Western Lake (30° 19Ј 31Љ N, 86° 09Ј 12Љ W) is separated millennium A.D. The millennial-scale variability in catastrophic from the Gulf of Mexico by a 150- to 200-m-wide barrier hurricane landfalls along the Gulf Coast is probably controlled by beach (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Hurricane and Tropical Storm
    State of New Jersey 2014 Hazard Mitigation Plan Section 5. Risk Assessment 5.8 Hurricane and Tropical Storm 2014 Plan Update Changes The 2014 Plan Update includes tropical storms, hurricanes and storm surge in this hazard profile. In the 2011 HMP, storm surge was included in the flood hazard. The hazard profile has been significantly enhanced to include a detailed hazard description, location, extent, previous occurrences, probability of future occurrence, severity, warning time and secondary impacts. New and updated data and figures from ONJSC are incorporated. New and updated figures from other federal and state agencies are incorporated. Potential change in climate and its impacts on the flood hazard are discussed. The vulnerability assessment now directly follows the hazard profile. An exposure analysis of the population, general building stock, State-owned and leased buildings, critical facilities and infrastructure was conducted using best available SLOSH and storm surge data. Environmental impacts is a new subsection. 5.8.1 Profile Hazard Description A tropical cyclone is a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or sub-tropical waters and has a closed low-level circulation. Tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes are all considered tropical cyclones. These storms rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere around the center and are accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] 2013a). Almost all tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic basin (which includes the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea) form between June 1 and November 30 (hurricane season). August and September are peak months for hurricane development.
    [Show full text]
  • Hurricane Irma Storm Review
    Hurricane Irma Storm Review November 11, 2018 At Duke Energy Florida, we power more than 4 million lives Service territory includes: . Service to 1.8 million retail customers in 35 counties . 13,000 square miles . More than 5,100 miles of transmission lines and 32,000 miles of distribution lines . Owns and operates nearly 9,500 MWs of generating capacity . 76.2% gas, 21% coal, 3% renewable, 0.2%oil, 2,400 MWs Purchased Power. 2 Storm Preparedness Activities Operational preparation is a year-round activity Coordination with County EOC Officials . Transmission & Distribution Systems Inspected and . Structured Engagement and Information Maintained Sharing Before, During and After Hurricane . Storm Organizations Drilled & Prepared . Coordination with county EOC priorities . Internal and External Resource Needs Secured . Public Communications and Outreach . Response Plan Tested and Continuously Improved Storm Restoration Organization Transmission Hurricane Distribution System Preparedness System Local Governmental Coordination 3 Hurricane Irma – Resources & Logistics Resources . 12,528 Total Resources . 1,553 pre-staged in Perry, Georgia . 91 line and vegetation vendors from 25 states . Duke Energy Carolinas and Midwest crews as well as resources from Texas, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Maine and Canada . 26 independent basecamps, parking/staging sites Mutual Assistance . Largest mobilization in DEF history . Mutual Assistance Agreements, executed between DEF and other utilities, ensure that resources can be timely dispatched and fairly apportioned. Southeastern Electric Exchange coordinates Mutual Assistance 4 5. Individual homes RESTORATION 3. Critical Infrastructure 2. Substations 1. Transmission Lines 4. High-density neighborhoods 5 Hurricane Irma- Restoration Irma’s track northward up the Florida peninsula Restoration Summary resulted in a broad swath of hurricane and tropical Customers Peak Customers Outage storm force winds.
    [Show full text]
  • Background Hurricane Katrina
    PARTPART 33 IMPACTIMPACT OFOF HURRICANESHURRICANES ONON NEWNEW ORLEANSORLEANS ANDAND THETHE GULFGULF COASTCOAST 19001900--19981998 HURRICANEHURRICANE--CAUSEDCAUSED FLOODINGFLOODING OFOF NEWNEW ORLEANSORLEANS •• SinceSince 1559,1559, 172172 hurricaneshurricanes havehave struckstruck southernsouthern LouisianaLouisiana ((ShallatShallat,, 2000).2000). •• OfOf these,these, 3838 havehave causedcaused floodingflooding inin NewNew thethe OrleansOrleans area,area, usuallyusually viavia LakeLake PonchartrainPonchartrain.. •• SomeSome ofof thethe moremore notablenotable eventsevents havehave included:included: SomeSome ofof thethe moremore notablenotable eventsevents havehave included:included: 1812,1812, 1831,1831, 1860,1860, 1915,1915, 1947,1947, 1965,1965, 1969,1969, andand 20052005.. IsaacIsaac MonroeMonroe ClineCline USWS meteorologist Isaac Monroe Cline pioneered the study of tropical cyclones and hurricanes in the early 20th Century, by recording barometric pressures, storm surges, and wind velocities. •• Cline charted barometric gradients (right) and tracked the eyes of hurricanes as they approached landfall. This shows the event of Sept 29, 1915 hitting the New Orleans area. • Storm or tidal surges are caused by lifting of the oceanic surface by abnormal low atmospheric pressure beneath the eye of a hurricane. The faster the winds, the lower the pressure; and the greater the storm surge. At its peak, Hurricane Katrina caused a surge 53 feet high under its eye as it approached the Louisiana coast, triggering a storm surge advisory of 18 to 28 feet in New Orleans (image from USA Today). StormStorm SurgeSurge •• The surge effect is minimal in the open ocean, because the water falls back on itself •• As the storm makes landfall, water is lifted onto the continent, locally elevating the sea level, much like a tsunami, but with much higher winds Images from USA Today •• Cline showed that it was then northeast quadrant of a cyclonic event that produced the greatest storm surge, in accordance with the drop in barometric pressure.
    [Show full text]
  • RE-ANALYSIS of 1969'S HURRICANE CAMILLE COMPLETED Catastrophic Hurricane Now Ranks As Second Strongest on Record
    RE-ANALYSIS OF 1969’s HURRICANE CAMILLE COMPLETED Catastrophic hurricane now ranks as second strongest on record A re-analysis of the database for Hurricane Camille, an extremely intense hurricane that devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast on the night of August 17, 1969, has been completed. Based upon this reassessment, Hurricane Camille is indicated at landfall on the Mississippi coast to have been a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with peak sustained winds of 175 mph and a central pressure of 900 mb. This is the same category as analyzed originally, but the peak sustained winds were reduced from 190 mph and the central pressure lowered from 909 mb. Camille is also reanalyzed to have undergone genesis as a tropical cyclone 18 hours earlier than first indicated on August 14, 1969. When comparing Camille with the two other known Category 5 hurricanes that have struck the continental United States since 1900, Camille (900 mb and 175 mph) ranks between the 1935 Labor Day hurricane (892 mb and 185 mph) and 1992’s Andrew (922 mb and 165 mph) as the strongest hurricanes on record at landfall. Hurricane Camille on the afternoon of August 17, 1969, from the ESSA-9 polar orbiting satellite. Revisions to the Camille’s database were accomplished by obtaining the original observations collected – mainly by ships, weather stations, coastal radars, Navy/Air Force/Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) Hurricane Hunter aircraft reconnaissance planes, ESSA/NASA satellite imagery – and analyzing Camille based upon our understanding of hurricanes today. (The agency ESSA is now the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA.) Margie Kieper, Jack Beven, Hugh Willoughby, Chris Landsea, and the NHC Best Track Change Committee all made substantial contributions toward the reanalysis of this devastating hurricane.
    [Show full text]
  • Richmond, VA Hurricanes
    Hurricanes Influencing the Richmond Area Why should residents of the Middle Atlantic states be concerned about hurricanes during the coming hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1 and ends November 30? After all, the big ones don't seem to affect the region anymore. Consider the following: The last Category 2 hurricane to make landfall along the U.S. East Coast, north of Florida, was Isabel in 2003. The last Category 3 was Fran in 1996, and the last Category 4 was Hugo in 1989. Meanwhile, ten Category 2 or stronger storms have made landfall along the Gulf Coast between 2004 and 2008. Hurricane history suggests that the Mid-Atlantic's seeming immunity will change as soon as 2009. Hurricane Alley shifts. Past active hurricane cycles, typically lasting 25 to 30 years, have brought many destructive storms to the region, particularly to shore areas. Never before have so many people and so much property been at risk. Extensive coastal development and a rising sea make for increased vulnerability. A storm like the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944, a powerful Category 3, would savage shorelines from North Carolina to New England. History suggests that such an event is due. Hurricane Hazel in 1954 came ashore in North Carolina as a Category 4 to directly slam the Mid-Atlantic region. It swirled hurricane-force winds along an interior track of 700 miles, through the Northeast and into Canada. More than 100 people died. Hazel-type wind events occur about every 50 years. Areas north of Florida are particularly susceptible to wind damage.
    [Show full text]
  • The Trinity Reporter, Fall 2015
    FALL 2015 The Trinity REPORTER Trinity campus celebrates WHEN 45 years IN ROME … BRINGING TEDx THIS IS HER BANTAMS AT INSIDE TO TRINITY ‘FIGHT SONG’ THEIR BEST Student spearheads Rachel Platten ’03 soars Women’s varsity-eight crew successful efort with pop music hit wins fourth national title FALL 2015 16 20 26 This is her ‘Fight Song’ When in Rome Gender balance Rachel Platten ’03 soars with pop music hit Trinity campus celebrates 45 years makes good STEM Taking a look at Trinity and beyond FEATURES 2 / The Trinity Reporter / CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS 02 ALONG THE WALK 06 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT 07 AROUND HARTFORD 14 TRINITY TREASURE 36 ATHLETICS 41 CLASS NOTES 72 IN MEMORY 78 ALUMNI EVENTS 80 ENDNOTE The Trinity Reporter Vol. 46, No. 1, Fall 2015 Published by the Ofce of Communications, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 06106. Postage paid at Hartford, Connecticut, and additional mailing ofces. The Trinity Reporter is mailed to alumni, parents, faculty, staf, and friends of Trinity College without charge. All publication rights reserved, and contents may be reproduced or reprinted only by written permission of the editor. Opinions expressed are those of the editor or contributors and do not reflect the ofcial position of Trinity College. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Trinity Reporter, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 06106 The editor welcomes your questions and comments: Sonya Adams, Ofce of Communications, Trinity College, 300 Summit Street, Hartford, CT 06106 or [email protected]. www. trincoll.edu ON THE COVER Livio Pestilli, bottom right, longtime director of the Trinity College Rome Campus, meets with his “Bernini and His World” seminar class in the sacristy of the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella, also known as Chiesa Nuova.
    [Show full text]
  • Coordinating Paleoclimate Research on Tropical Cyclones with Hurricane-Climate Theory and Modelling
    Tellus (2007), 59A, 529–537 C 2007 The Authors Journal compilation C 2007 Blackwell Munksgaard Printed in Singapore. All rights reserved TELLUS Perspective: coordinating paleoclimate research on tropical cyclones with hurricane-climate theory and modelling ∗ By AMY FRAPPIER1 , THOMAS KNUTSON2, KAM-BIU LIU3 and KERRY EMANUEL4 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Boston College, Devlin Hall 213, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 USA 2Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory/NOAA, Princeton, NJ 08542 USA 3Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, 1002 Energy, Coast, and Environment Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA 4Program in Atmospheres, Oceans, and Climate, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA (Manuscript received 1 September 2006; in final form 3 April 2007) ABSTRACT Extending the meteorological record back in time can offer critical data for assessing tropical cyclone-climate links. While paleotempestology, the study of ancient storms, can provide a more realistic view of past ‘worst case scenarios’, future environmental conditions may have no analogues in the paleoclimate record. The primary value in paleotem- pestology proxy records arises from their ability to quantify climate–tropical cyclone interactions by sampling tropical cyclone activity during pre-historic periods with a wider range of different climates. New paleotempestology proxies are just beginning to be applied, encouraging new collaboration between the paleo and tropical cyclone dynamics com- munities. The aim of this paper is to point out some paths toward closer coordination by outlining target needs of the tropical cyclone theory and modelling community and potential contributions of the paleotempestology community. We review recent advances in paleotempestology, summarize the range of types and quality of paleodata generation, and identify future research opportunities for paleotempestology, tropical cyclone dynamics and climate change impacts and attribution communities.
    [Show full text]
  • 50 Years After Hurricane Camille: How the Navy Seabees' “Can Do” Spirit
    www.cnic.navy.mil/gulfport QUICK EDITION Vol. 2 No. 26 Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi August 19, 2019 50 years after Hurricane Camille: How the Navy Seabees’ “Can Do” spirit helped the Gulf Coast recover By Ryan Labadens NCBC Public Affairs The Gulf Coast region has been no stranger to extreme weather throughout the years, especially during hur- ricane season. More recent storms that spring to mind when people talk about hur- ricanes impacting the Gulf Coast are Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the coast of Mississippi in 2005, and more recently Hurricane Michael, which ripped through the Flor- ida panhandle as a Category 5 storm just last year. One storm that generations past have always referred to as synonymous with desola- tion and destruction was Hurricane Camille. gency management staff, had already reviewed Seabees from the installation – supervised by This Category 5 hurricane made landfall in Pass and implemented hurricane preparation plans, the 20th Naval Construction Regiment – rolled Christian, Miss., 50 years ago on Aug. 17, 1969, and the base opened up shelters on the in- into the surrounding communities to help with and left its mark on the Mississippi Gulf Coast stallation for dependents and base civilians to recovery efforts. Seabees and corpsmen from for years to come. weather out the storm. The captain and staff MCB 121 combed through the ruins of the Vet- The nation was in the middle of the Vietnam also worked with local governments and civil erans Administration Hospital in Gulfport, Miss., War at the time, and U.S. Navy Seabees from defense officials to coordinate their response helping move patients who had sheltered there Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) to the coming hurricane, and later how to deal to ambulances and buses for transportation to Gulfport were rotating battalions in and out of with its aftermath.
    [Show full text]
  • 09 Paleotempestology: Reconstructing Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Tracks in the Pre-HURDAT Era
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Modern Climatology Open Textbooks 3-2012 09 Paleotempestology: Reconstructing Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Tracks in the Pre-HURDAT Era Jill S.M. Coleman Steven A. LaVoie Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/modern_climatology Part of the Climate Commons, and the Earth Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Coleman, Jill S.M. and LaVoie, Steven A., "09 Paleotempestology: Reconstructing Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Tracks in the Pre-HURDAT Era" (2012). Modern Climatology. 6. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/modern_climatology/6 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Textbooks at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Modern Climatology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 9 Paleotempestology: Reconstructing Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Tracks in the Pre-HURDAT Era Jill S. M. Coleman and Steven A. LaVoie Ball State University USA 1. Introduction The study of past tropical cyclone activity by means of geological proxies and/or historical documentary records is known as paleotempestology. This scientific discipline has become prominent over the course of the last decade partially in response to the recent increase in tropical cyclone count and intensity in the North Atlantic basin witnessed since 1995. The field has also developed due to the socioeconomic impacts of tropical cyclones particularly along vulnerable coastal regions. During the twenty-five years prior to the start of the most recent increase in hurricane activity, major (Category 3, 4, or 5) hurricanes were less frequent than in previous decades. Yet, property losses from the hurricanes that did make landfall in the United States increased during this period due to development in damage prone areas (NOAA Paleoclimatology Program, 2000).
    [Show full text]
  • Geology & Geophysics News
    GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS NEWS Yale University I Department of Geology and Geophysics Fall 2014 Chairman’s Letter example, he has used evolutionary development Jay Ague ([email protected]) in a remarkable way to demonstrate the origin of the bird skull through retention of the juvenile It’s my pleasure to once morphology of dinosaurs, and to show the again welcome you to evolutionary origin of the bird beak. Anjan’s G&G’s annual newsletter. approach is fundamentally interdisciplinary and Inside, you can read about his expertise runs the gamut from field excavation, the many adventures morphology, phylogeny, and evolutionary and accomplishments development. Welcome, Anjan! of current members of We are also saddened the department, alums, to bid farewell to Dolf postdocs and former Seilacher, who passed faculty, including research away earlier this year. and teaching activities Dolf was one of the spanning the globe from the Andes to Australia. great paleontologists Best wishes to Elisabeth Vrba, who is retiring of our time and a true after a long and distinguished career. Elisabeth, departmental icon. As a vertebrate paleontologist who came to Yale most of you know, he made in 1986, was a pioneer in recognizing how seminal contributions environmental and climate changes could to our understanding impact profoundly faunal replacement via rapid Anjan Bhullar of trace fossils, pattern speciation and extinction. Her groundbreaking formation and the factors controlling the forms “turnover-pulse” hypothesis and recognition of of organisms, exceptional fossil preservation, the importance of exaptation (a term she coined Ediacaran fauna, and many other aspects of with Stephan J.
    [Show full text]