A multi-proxy paleotempestological reconstruction from Cabo Rojo, southwestern Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is frequently struck by hurricanes, often when they are near peak intensity. Despite this, the long-term hurricane history of mainland Puerto Rico is understudied. Long-term trends (∼1300 years) of hurricane strikes in Cabo Rojo, southwestern Puerto Rico, were determined in this study using multi-proxy techniques including X-ray fluorescence, loss-on-ignition, grain size, and benthic foraminifera identification on sediment cores from a coastal lagoon. Six hurricane events were identified, characterized by the presence of allochthonous foraminifera, elevated carbonate content, high ratios of Cl/Br, K/Ti, and Ca/Ti, and high concentrations of the marine indicator elements Cl and Ca. The bottom 20–30 cm of each core was comprised of mangrove peat, with a sharp upper boundary leading into multiple fining upwards layers of sand, indicating major disturbances and an ecological shift of the site from mangrove forest to an open lagoon system. The chronology of hurricane strikes could be divided into two periods: a quiescent period from 700 CE to the mid-17th century during which only two hurricane strikes were recorded, and an active period from the mid-17th century to present during which four hurricane strikes were identified, a pattern which is consistent with other circum-Caribbean studies. This study represents the first paleotempestological reconstruction of hurricane activity in southwest Puerto Rico, and the ecological, sedimentological, and geochemical data presented within can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to better understand past and current trends of hurricane events in the region.