Paleotempestology of Chezzetcook Inlet, Nova Scotia

English Abstract:

A multi-proxy approach framework is presented to reconstruct the paleotempestology in Chezzetcook Inlet, Nova Scotia on the eastern Canadian seaboard. This study aims at identifying high storm activity periods, intensity and frequency of past tropical storms by using fossil remains, such as shells and foraminifera deposited on land or in fresh water basins from past storm surges. Sediment cores extracted from coastal lakes and marshes were chosen based on several criteria, such as elevation, distance from the Atlantic Ocean and the material composition of barriers. Several laboratory analyses are conducted on the sediment cores, for example x-ray, magnetic susceptibility, loss-on-ignition and grain-size. Future work will also include the study of other proxies including exploring the geochemistry of the past storms. Oxygen and carbon from individual tree rings will be extracted to establish storms’ unique isotopic signatures and to validate sediment core findings.