Laguna Playa Grande, Puerto Rico Grain Size/Paleohurricane Data ----------------------------------------------------------------------- World Data Center for Paleoclimatology, Boulder and NOAA Paleoclimatology Program ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: PLEASE CITE CONTRIBUTORS WHEN USING THIS DATA!!!!! NAME OF DATA SET: Laguna Playa Grande, Puerto Rico Grain Size/Paleohurricane Data LAST UPDATE: 8/2007 (Original receipt by WDC Paleo) CONTRIBUTOR: Jeffrey P. Donnelly, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution IGBP PAGES/WDCA CONTRIBUTION SERIES NUMBER: 2007-068 SUGGESTED DATA CITATION: Donnelly, J.P. and J.D. Woodruff. 2007. Laguna Playa Grande, Puerto Rico Grain Size/Paleohurricane Data. IGBP PAGES/World Data Center for Paleoclimatology Data Contribution Series # 2007-068. NOAA/NCDC Paleoclimatology Program, Boulder CO, USA. ORIGINAL REFERENCE: Donnelly, J.P. and J.D. Woodruff. 2007. Intense hurricane activity over the past 5,000 years controlled by El Nino and the West African monsoon. Nature, Vol. 447, pp. 465-468, 24 May 2007. doi:10.1038/nature05834 ABSTRACT: The processes that control the formation, intensity and track of hurricanes are poorly understood. It has been proposed that an increase in sea surface temperatures caused by anthropogenic climate change has led to an increase in the frequency of intense tropical cyclones, but this proposal has been challenged on the basis that the instrumental record is too short and unreliable to reveal trends in intense tropical cyclone activity. Storm-induced deposits preserved in the sediments of coastal lagoons offer the opportunity to study the links between climatic conditions and hurricane activity on longer timescales, because they provide centennial- to millennial-scale records of past hurricane landfalls. Here we present a record of intense hurricane activity in the western North Atlantic Ocean over the past 5,000 years based on sediment cores from a Caribbean lagoon that contain coarse-grained deposits associated with intense hurricane landfalls. The record indicates that the frequency of intense hurricane landfalls has varied on centennial to millennial scales over this interval. Comparison of the sediment record with palaeo-climate records indicates that this variability was probably modulated by atmospheric dynamics associated with variations in the El Nino/ Southern Oscillation and the strength of the West African monsoon, and suggests that sea surface temperatures as high as at present are not necessary to support intervals of frequent intense hurricanes. To accurately predict changes in intense hurricane activity, it is therefore important to understand how the El Nino/Southern Oscillation and the West African monsoon will respond to future climate change. GEOGRAPHIC REGION: Caribbean Sea PERIOD OF RECORD: 5KYrBP - present FUNDING SOURCES: Funding for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation, the Risk Prediction Initiative, the National Geographic Society, the Coastal Ocean Institute at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Endowed Fund for Innovative Research. DESCRIPTION: Mean Grain Size data from Core LPG4. Coarse-grained event layers are interpreted as a proxy for hurricane-induced overwash events. Laguna Playa Grande, Vieques, Puerto Rico: 17ºN, 65ºW. Note: Magnitude of mean bulk grain size peaks should not be used in infer relative intensity. Coarse grained layers contain a mixture of materials of different densities and settling velocities. DATA: Laguna Playa Grande core LG4 bulk mean grain size Column 1: Depth (cm) Column 2: Age (yrs relative to 1950 AD) Column 3: Age (yrs AD/BC) Column 4: LG4 bulk mean grain size (microns) Depth Age YrBP Age AD/BC BLG4 bulk mean grain size (microns) -0.5 50.5 2000.5 156.3 -1.5 45.6 1995.6 167.9 -2.5 40.7 1990.7 200.5 -3.5 35.8 1985.8 182.7 -4.5 30.8 1980.8 159.1 -5.5 25.9 1975.9 160 -6.5 21 1971 157.4 -7.5 16.1 1966.1 155.1 -8.5 11.1 1961.1 151.2 -9.5 6.2 1956.2 152.1 -10.5 1.3 1951.3 165.3 -11.5 -3.7 1946.3 287.2 -12.5 -8.6 1941.4 201.8 -13.5 -13.5 1936.5 147.7 -14.5 -18.4 1931.6 119.3 -15.5 -23.4 1926.6 46.8 -16.5 -28.3 1921.7 31.3 -17.5 -33.2 1916.8 40.3 -18.5 -38.1 1911.9 31.5 -19.5 -43.1 1906.9 30.5 -20.5 -48 1902 68.1 -21.5 -52.9 1897.1 81.4 -22.5 -57.8 1892.2 149.3 -23.5 -62.8 1887.2 126.7 -24.5 -67.7 1882.3 67.3 -25.5 -72.6 1877.4 49.3 -26.5 -77.5 1872.5 56 -27.5 -82.5 1867.5 56 -28.5 -87.4 1862.6 59.4 -29.5 -92.3 1857.7 68.6 -30.5 -97.2 1852.8 70.5 -31.5 -102.2 1847.8 48.5 -32.5 -107.1 1842.9 50.8 -33.5 -112 1838 70.1 -34.5 -117 1833 51.9 -35.5 -121.9 1828.1 89.6 -36.5 -126.8 1823.2 73.6 -37.5 -131.7 1818.3 52.2 -38.5 -136.7 1813.3 74.9 -39.5 -141.6 1808.4 46.1 -40.5 -146.5 1803.5 61.3 -41.5 -151.4 1798.6 40.4 -42.5 -156.4 1793.6 51.3 -43.5 -161.3 1788.7 80.5 -44.5 -166.2 1783.8 66.6 -45.5 -171.1 1778.9 66.5 -46.5 -176.1 1773.9 69.4 -47.5 -181 1769 65.9 -48.5 -185.9 1764.1 67.1 -49.5 -190.8 1759.2 78.8 -50.5 -195.8 1754.2 75.8 -51.5 -200.7 1749.3 58.2 -52.5 -205.6 1744.4 47.7 -53.5 -210.5 1739.5 61.8 -54.5 -215.5 1734.5 59.1 -55.5 -220.4 1729.6 57.5 -56.5 -225.3 1724.7 48.9 -57.5 -230.3 1719.7 51.1 -58.5 -235.2 1714.8 42.5 -59.5 -240.1 1709.9 45.6 -60.5 -245 1705 52.9 -61.5 -250 1700 54.1 -62.5 -258.3 1691.7 49.6 -63.5 -266.6 1683.4 47.5 -64.5 -275 1675 56.3 -65.5 -283.3 1666.7 49.2 -66.5 -291.6 1658.4 39.4 -67.5 -300 1650 35.9 -68.5 -308.3 1641.7 28.7 -69.5 -316.6 1633.4 33.8 -70.5 -325 1625 37.1 -71.5 -334.5 1615.5 40.4 -72.5 -344 1606 44 -73.5 -353.5 1596.5 43.4 -74.5 -363.1 1586.9 38 -75.5 -372.6 1577.4 43.2 -76.5 -382.1 1567.9 42.6 -77.5 -391.6 1558.4 35.3 -78.5 -401.1 1548.9 36 -79.5 -410.7 1539.3 36.4 -80.5 -420.2 1529.8 30.5 -81.5 -429.7 1520.3 38.9 -82.5 -439.2 1510.8 38 -83.5 -448.8 1501.2 38.7 -84.5 -458.3 1491.7 41.2 -85.5 -467.8 1482.2 65.6 -86.5 -477.3 1472.7 85.7 -87.5 -486.9 1463.1 104.7 -88.5 -496.4 1453.6 95.2 -89.5 -505.9 1444.1 39.9 -90.5 -515.4 1434.6 40.3 -91.5 -525 1425 45 -92.5 -534.5 1415.5 52.3 -93.5 -544 1406 53 -94.5 -553.5 1396.5 39.3 -95.5 -563.1 1386.9 39.1 -96.5 -572.6 1377.4 41.6 -97.5 -582.1 1367.9 31.5 -98.5 -591.6 1358.4 33.5 -99.5 -601.1 1348.9 42.4 -100.5 -610.7 1339.3 36.6 -101.5 -620.2 1329.8 35.6 -102.5 -629.7 1320.3 49.7 -103.5 -639.2 1310.8 40.4 -104.5 -648.8 1301.2 57.8 -105.5 -658.3 1291.7 43 -106.5 -667.8 1282.2 40.3 -107.5 -677.3 1272.7 59.7 -108.5 -686.9 1263.1 41.5 -109.5 -696.4 1253.6 37 -110.5 -705.9 1244.1 35.7 -111.5 -715.4 1234.6 39 -112.5 -725 1225 38.5 -113.5 -734.5 1215.5 40.7 -114.5 -744 1206 38.6 -115.5 -753.5 1196.5 37.1 -116.5 -763.1 1186.9 42.7 -117.5 -772.6 1177.4 33.3 -118.5 -782.1 1167.9 37.2 -119.5 -791.6 1158.4 39.7 -120.5 -801.1 1148.9 41.6 -121.5 -810.7 1139.3 44 -122.5 -820.2 1129.8 38.7 -123.5 -829.7 1120.3 40.3 -124.5 -839.2 1110.8 40.4 -125.5 -848.8 1101.2 41 -126.5 -858.3 1091.7 42.9 -127.5 -867.8 1082.2 59 -128.5 -877.3 1072.7 38.9 -129.5 -886.9 1063.1 43.4 -130.5 -896.4 1053.6 41.9 -131.5 -905.9 1044.1 41.4 -132.5 -915.4 1034.6 42.8 -133.5 -925 1025 39.4 -134.5 -934.5 1015.5 44 -135.5 -944 1006 44.4 -136.5 -953.5 996.5 49.5 -137.5 -963.1 986.9 54.5 -138.5 -972.6 977.4 55.8 -139.5 -982.1 967.9 54.1 -140.5 -991.6 958.4 43.9 -141.5 -1001.1 948.9 64.8 -142.5 -1010.7 939.3 76.9 -143.5 -1020.2 929.8 67.1 -144.5 -1039.1 910.9 95.7 -145.5 -1057.9 892.1 64.1 -146.5 -1076.8 873.2 33.9 -147.5 -1095.7 854.3 38.6 -148.5 -1114.5 835.5 39.4 -149.5 -1133.4 816.6 40.6 -150.5 -1152.3 797.7 35.6 -151.5 -1171.1 778.9 33.5 -152.5 -1190 760 40.7 -153.5 -1208.9 741.1 37.7 -154.5 -1227.7 722.3 60.6 -155.5 -1246.6 703.4 86.5 -156.5 -1265.5 684.5 75.6 -157.5 -1284.3 665.7 68.8 -158.5 -1303.2 646.8 53.3 -159.5 -1322.1 627.9 39.4 -160.5 -1340.9 609.1 89.2 -161.5 -1359.8 590.2 68.7 -162.5 -1378.7 571.3 62.8 -163.5 -1397.6 552.4 53.3 -164.5 -1416.4 533.6 43.2 -165.5 -1435.3 514.7 50.9 -166.5 -1454.2 495.8 60.2 -167.5 -1473 477 34 -168.5 -1491.9 458.1 42.2 -169.5 -1510.8 439.2 39.6 -170.5 -1529.6 420.4 112.1 -171.5 -1548.5 401.5 146.3 -172.5 -1567.4 382.6 93.2 -173.5 -1586.2 363.8 54.2 -174.5 -1605.1 344.9 40.6 -175.5 -1624 326 47.7 -176.5 -1642.8 307.2 51.9 -177.5 -1661.7 288.3 49.3 -178.5 -1680.6 269.4 48.6 -179.5 -1699.4 250.6 69.4 -180.5 -1718.3 231.7 72.1 -181.5 -1737.2 212.8 76.8 -182.5 -1756 194 79.4 -183.5 -1774.9 175.1 113.4 -184.5 -1793.8 156.2 58.2 -185.5 -1812.6 137.4 59.1 -186.5 -1831.5 118.5 55.6 -187.5 -1850.4 99.6 54.6 -188.5 -1869.3 80.7 46.8 -189.5 -1888.1 61.9 46.3 -190.5 -1907 43 52.4 -191.5 -1925.9 24.1 48.6 -192.5 -1944.7 5.3 53.7 -193.5 -1963.6 -13.6 79.8 -194.5 -1982.5 -32.5 102.9 -195.5 -2001.3 -51.3 36.8 -196.5 -2020.2 -70.2 40.7 -197.5 -2039.1 -89.1 45.2 -198.5 -2057.9 -107.9 44.3 -199.5 -2076.8 -126.8 63.2 -200.5 -2095.7 -145.7 65.6 -201.5 -2114.5 -164.5 42.9 -202.5 -2133.4 -183.4 48.3 -203.5 -2152.3 -202.3 48.7 -204.5 -2171.1 -221.1 48.5 -205.5 -2190 -240 48.2 -206.5 -2208.9 -258.9 44.6 -207.5 -2227.7 -277.7 43.6 -208.5 -2246.6 -296.6 46.7 -209.5 -2265.5 -315.5 82.4 -210.5 -2284.3 -334.3 96.4 -211.5 -2303.2 -353.2 107.1 -212.5 -2322.1 -372.1 76.5 -213.5 -2340.9 -390.9 37.7 -214.5 -2359.8 -409.8 48.2 -215.5 -2378.7 -428.7 47.3 -216.5 -2397.6 -447.6 46.6 -217.5 -2416.4 -466.4 62.1 -218.5 -2435.3 -485.3 43.4 -219.5 -2454.2 -504.2 49.8 -220.5 -2473 -523 46.6 -221.5 -2491.9 -541.9 99.4 -222.5 -2510.8 -560.8 57 -223.5 -2529.6 -579.6 34.5 -224.5 -2548.5 -598.5 42.8 -225.5 -2563.8 -613.8 125.7 -226.5 -2579.1 -629.1 46.4 -227.5 -2594.4 -644.4 46.3 -228.5 -2609.8 -659.8 62.7 -229.5 -2625.1 -675.1 50.7 -230.5 -2640.4 -690.4 44.3 -231.5 -2655.7 -705.7 56 -232.5 -2671 -721 55.4 -233.5 -2686.3 -736.3 52.9 -234.5 -2701.6 -751.6 53.1 -235.5 -2716.9 -766.9 45.3 -236.5 -2732.3 -782.3 46.8 -237.5 -2747.6 -797.6 45.5 -238.5 -2762.9 -812.9 39.3 -239.5 -2778.2 -828.2 42.2 -240.5 -2793.5 -843.5 45.7 -241.5 -2808.8 -858.8 59.9 -242.5 -2824.1 -874.1 38 -243.5 -2839.5 -889.5 40.3 -244.5 -2854.8 -904.8 38.6 -245.5 -2870.1 -920.1 38.7 -246.5 -2885.4 -935.4 32.6 -247.5 -2900.7 -950.7 34.3 -248.5 -2916 -966 41.3 -249.5 -2931.3 -981.3 48.7 -250.5 -2946.7 -996.7 45.1 -251.5 -2962 -1012 54.1 -252.5 -2977.3 -1027.3 50.5 -253.5 -2992.6 -1042.6 40.6 -254.5 -3007.9 -1057.9 40.7 -255.5 -3023.2 -1073.2 41.2 -256.5 -3038.5 -1088.5 41 -257.5 -3053.9 -1103.9 47.1 -258.5 -3069.2 -1119.2 48.1 -259.5 -3084.5 -1134.5 51.3 -260.5 -3099.8 -1149.8 38.8 -261.5 -3115.1 -1165.1 30.1 -262.5 -3130.4 -1180.4 26.5 -263.5 -3145.7 -1195.7 36.3 -264.5 -3161.1 -1211.1 33.9 -265.5 -3176.4 -1226.4 44.5 -266.5 -3191.7 -1241.7 46.6 -267.5 -3207 -1257 36.8 -268.5 -3222.3 -1272.3 63.4 -269.5 -3237.6 -1287.6 45.2 -270.5 -3252.9 -1302.9 55.7 -271.5 -3268.3 -1318.3 56.6 -272.5 -3283.6 -1333.6 50.6 -273.5 -3298.9 -1348.9 44.6 -274.5 -3314.2 -1364.2 43.9 -275.5 -3329.5 -1379.5 44.9 -276.5 -3344.8 -1394.8 43.3 -277.5 -3360.1 -1410.1 45.2 -278.5 -3375.4 -1425.4 55 -279.5 -3390.8 -1440.8 50.9 -280.5 -3406.1 -1456.1 52.3 -281.5 -3421.4 -1471.4 40.7 -282.5 -3436.7 -1486.7 35.5 -283.5 -3452 -1502 28.7 -284.5 -3467.3 -1517.3 34 -285.5 -3482.6 -1532.6 32.7 -286.5 -3498 -1548 39.5 -287.5 -3516.4 -1566.4 40.8 -288.5 -3534.8 -1584.8 36.1 -289.5 -3553.3 -1603.3 32.4 -290.5 -3571.7 -1621.7 38.1 -291.5 -3590.1 -1640.1 40 -292.5 -3608.6 -1658.6 27 -293.5 -3627 -1677 53.2 -294.5 -3645.4 -1695.4 40 -295.5 -3663.9 -1713.9 51.4 -296.5 -3682.3 -1732.3 48.1 -297.5 -3700.7 -1750.7 46 -298.5 -3719.2 -1769.2 62.1 -299.5 -3737.6 -1787.6 75.9 -300.5 -3756 -1806 48.6 -301.5 -3774.5 -1824.5 50 -302.5 -3792.9 -1842.9 59.1 -303.5 -3811.3 -1861.3 37.1 -304.5 -3829.8 -1879.8 54.4 -305.5 -3848.2 -1898.2 64.4 -306.5 -3866.6 -1916.6 56.8 -307.5 -3885.1 -1935.1 42.6 -308.5 -3903.5 -1953.5 50.3 -309.5 -3921.9 -1971.9 54.6 -310.5 -3940.4 -1990.4 35.4 -311.5 -3958.8 -2008.8 48.3 -312.5 -3977.2 -2027.2 59.2 -313.5 -3995.7 -2045.7 55.3 -314.5 -4014.1 -2064.1 51.6 -315.5 -4032.5 -2082.5 47.8 -316.5 -4051 -2101 48.1 -317.5 -4069.4 -2119.4 165.3 -318.5 -4087.8 -2137.8 56.8 -319.5 -4106.3 -2156.3 42.7 -320.5 -4124.7 -2174.7 58.3 -321.5 -4143.1 -2193.1 60.1 -322.5 -4161.6 -2211.6 60.1 -323.5 -4180 -2230 93.4 -324.5 -4198.4 -2248.4 71.5 -325.5 -4216.9 -2266.9 62.8 -326.5 -4235.3 -2285.3 50 -327.5 -4253.7 -2303.7 60.8 -328.5 -4272.2 -2322.2 50.6 -329.5 -4290.6 -2340.6 46.1 -330.5 -4309 -2359 63.8 -331.5 -4327.5 -2377.5 50.1 -332.5 -4345.9 -2395.9 63.2 -333.5 -4364.3 -2414.3 61.6 -334.5 -4382.8 -2432.8 49.5 -335.5 -4401.2 -2451.2 38.9 -336.5 -4419.6 -2469.6 40.7 -337.5 -4438.1 -2488.1 43 -338.5 -4456.5 -2506.5 51.2 -339.5 -4474.9 -2524.9 54.7 -340.5 -4493.4 -2543.4 73.8 -341.5 -4511.8 -2561.8 50.7 -342.5 -4530.2 -2580.2 63.5 -343.5 -4548.7 -2598.7 55 -344.5 -4567.1 -2617.1 78.8 -345.5 -4585.5 -2635.5 125.2 -346.5 -4604 -2654 114.6 -347.5 -4622.4 -2672.4 108.2 -348.5 -4640.8 -2690.8 101.4 -349.5 -4659.2 -2709.2 81.6 -350.5 -4677.7 -2727.7 73.2 -351.5 -4696.1 -2746.1 77.2 -352.5 -4714.5 -2764.5 68.7 -353.5 -4733 -2783 69.1 -354.5 -4751.4 -2801.4 80.4 -355.5 -4769.8 -2819.8 92.1 -356.5 -4788.3 -2838.3 92 -357.5 -4806.7 -2856.7 74.8 -358.5 -4825.1 -2875.1 52.8 -359.5 -4843.6 -2893.6 113.9 -360.5 -4862 -2912 72.5 -361.5 -4880.4 -2930.4 30.5 -362.5 -4898.9 -2948.9 28.5 -363.5 -4917.3 -2967.3 34.2 -364.5 -4935.7 -2985.7 31 -365.5 -4954.2 -3004.2 17.8 -366.5 -4972.6 -3022.6 30.2 -367.5 -4991 -3041 31.4 -368.5 -5009.5 -3059.5 45.7 -369.5 -5027.9 -3077.9 44.2 -370.5 -5046.3 -3096.3 50.9 -371.5 -5064.8 -3114.8 64.5 -372.5 -5083.2 -3133.2 59.9 -373.5 -5101.6 -3151.6 51.4 -374.5 -5120.1 -3170.1 56.3 -375.5 -5138.5 -3188.5 51.8 -376.5 -5156.9 -3206.9 47 -377.5 -5175.4 -3225.4 59 -378.5 -5193.8 -3243.8 60.1 -379.5 -5212.2 -3262.2 87.6 -380.5 -5230.7 -3280.7 55.1 -381.5 -5249.1 -3299.1 61.6 -382.5 -5267.5 -3317.5 56.9 -383.5 -5286 -3336 69.5 -384.5 -5304.4 -3354.4 89.6 -385.5 -5322.8 -3372.8 59.9 -386.5 -5341.3 -3391.3 49 -387.5 -5359.7 -3409.7 60.2 -388.5 -5378.1 -3428.1 55.8 -389.5 -5396.6 -3446.6 49.6 -390.5 -5415 -3465 40.1 -391.5 -5433.4 -3483.4 39 -392.5 -5451.9 -3501.9 50.9 -393.5 -5470.3 -3520.3 40 -394.5 -5488.7 -3538.7 43 -395.5 -5507.2 -3557.2 46.6