Date of Award

5-10-2014

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geosciences

First Advisor

Dr. Lawrence M. Kiage

Second Advisor

Dr. Daniel M. Deocampo

Third Advisor

Dr. Christy Visaggi

Abstract

Hurricanes are amongst the most devastating of the world’s natural disasters and can cause billions of dollars’ worth of damage every year. Efforts to predict where and when tropical cyclones might strike, then, could potentially save money and lives. A lack of data exists for the GA coast, and the future direction of climate change could potentially bring more hurricanes to the state. This study provides information to enhance the paleohurricane record by examining three vibracores drawn from St. Catherines Island, GA. After interpreting the environments that generated the sediment found in one of these cores and corroborating evidence from the additional cores, six potential hurricane events were discovered, five of which were likely major hurricanes, category 3 or higher. Magnitudes were determined by comparison to event six, thought to be “The Great Gale of 1804”, a major hurricane recorded by the sedimentary record of St. Catherines Island.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/4954551

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