Hurricanes and climate in the Caribbean during the past 3700 years BP

Abstract

International audienceA multiproxy analysis of lacustrine sediments cored in Grand-Case Pond at Saint-Martin, north of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, reveals three distinct climatic periods for the last 3700 years. From 3700 to ~2500 yr cal. BP and from 1150 yr cal. BP to the present, carbonate mud deposition occurred in connection with pond lowstands. These periods were also punctuated by severe drought events, marked by gypsum laminae, and hurricane landfalls, leading to marine sand inputs into the pond. The intermediate time interval, from 2500 to 1150 yr cal. BP, is typified by black organic mud deposition, suggesting that hypoxic to anoxic conditions prevailed at the pond bottom. These were probably linked with a perennial pond highstand and reflect more uniform and wetter climatic conditions than today. The carbon isotopic composition of the ostracod Perissocytheridea bisulcata shows that the lowest δ13C values are recorded during the hypoxic periods, as a consequence of bacterial recycling of isotopically depleted organic matter. Such a climatic history agrees closely with that documented from other records in the Caribbean area, such as the Cariaco Basin, central coast of Belize or Barbados. By constrast, discrepancies seem to emerge from the comparison between hurricane activity recorded at Saint-Martin on the one hand and Vieques (Puerto Rico) on the other hand. We explain this apparent contradiction by a balance between two distinct storm paths in response to latitudinal shifts of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Stronger storm activity over the Gulf coast and the inner Caribbean Sea is favoured by a southern position of the ITCZ in connection with dry climatic conditions. Plausible links with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) are also suggested

A 2700calyr BP extreme flood event revealed by sediment accumulation in Amazon floodplains

“…The record of Ti concentrations in Cariaco Basin (Haug et al, 2001) is also a record of ITCZ position but during Northern Hemisphere summer, it shows strong fluctuations and very low values around 2800-2700 cal yrs BP, marking the shift of ITCZ from its northern mid-Holocene position to its southern late Holocene position. A change in hurricane paths is also related to this ITCZ shift (Malaizé et al, 2011). Chambers et al (2007), studying peat bogs in South America (Tierra del Fuego), identified an abrupt climate cooling 2800 years ago that paralleled coolings from a range of climate archives elsewhere.…”

A pre-Columbian fisheries baseline from the Caribbean

“…Droughts appear to have been accompanied by an extended dry period in the Lesser Antilles between ca. A.D. 800e1000, documented in cores from St. Martin (Malaizé et al, 2011) and Guadeloupe (Beets et al, 2006). Periodic hurricanes and higher salinity levels during droughts may have had a negative impact on reef health and, by extension, associated fisheries although we have no evidence of this from the zooarchaeological samples.…”

“…The impacts of pre-Columbian land clearing and cultivation on near shore reefs are unknown, but are estimated to be low based on salt pond sediment cores on islands with similar occupational histories. On neighboring St. Martin, for example, changes in pond sedimentation due to deforestation are not evident until after the arrival of Europeans (Malaizé et al, 2011). These data do indicate, however, that, during the time of Amerindian settlement, pond sedimentation was influenced by hurricanes and periodic droughts (Malaizé et al, 2011).…”

“…On neighboring St. Martin, for example, changes in pond sedimentation due to deforestation are not evident until after the arrival of Europeans (Malaizé et al, 2011). These data do indicate, however, that, during the time of Amerindian settlement, pond sedimentation was influenced by hurricanes and periodic droughts (Malaizé et al, 2011). Droughts appear to have been accompanied by an extended dry period in the Lesser Antilles between ca.…”

The recording of floods and earthquakes in Lake Chichój, Guatemala during the twentieth century

“…The country also lies in the path of many tropical depressions and hurricanes. Lake sediments are commonly used to assess earthquake recurrence (Arnaud et al 2002;Schnellmann et al 2002;Monecke et al 2004;Lauterbach et al 2012), flood recurrence (Arnaud et al 2002;Wirth et al 2011;Wilhelm et al 2012;Swierczynski et al 2012), and hurricane frequency in the tropics (Malaizé et al 2011). Thus far, limnological studies in Guatemala have targeted the Petén lowlands of northern Guatemala (Binford et al 1987;Anselmetti et al 2007) and the volcanic highlands of western Guatemala (Brezonik and Fox 1974;Poppe et al 1985;Newhall et al 1987).…”