Tropical cyclone frequency inferred from intra-annual density fluctuations in longleaf pine

I present a new method for identifying historic tropical cyclone activity utilizing frequencies of intra-annual density fluctuations in longleaf pine in western Florida. In addition, in this work I provide information about the causal factors that determine the formation of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) in longleaf pine latewood. Specifically, I test the viability of using L+ IADFs in longleaf pine latewood as a proxy for historic tropical cyclone frequency and precipitation for the period 1950–2017. The stabilized frequency of L+ IADF occurrence is significantly (p 0.50) nearly always (88%) coincide with a TC tracking into the study area, and I find a significant (p < 0.01) relationship between TC-sourced precipitation and the stabilized frequency of L+ IADFs. Via this relationship, reconstruction of historic tropical cyclone frequency and precipitation is probable, which would allow for increased understanding of historic tropical cyclone activity prior to the historic climate record