A Perfect Storm: The Collision of Hurricanes, Climate Change and Coastal Population Growth

An evening with WHOI climatologist Jeff Donnelly

Newport, RI (June 2018)– The Newport Historical Society and the Newport Restoration Foundation will co-host an evening with Jeff Donnelly, Climatologist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at the Newport Historical Society Resource Center 82 Touro Street, Newport, RI. Wine and cheeseat 5pm in the Resource Center gallery, lecture to start at 5:45pm. Attendance is $10 per person, $5 for Newport Historical Society members and Newport Restoration Foundation tenantsand military with ID. Register online at NewportHistory.org or call 401-846-0813 to secure your spot.

Hurricanes pose a significant threat to coastal populations, but the causes of changes in the frequency of hurricanes are poorly understood. Long-term historical and geological records provide potential analogs for future climate scenarios and indicate that hurricane frequency has varied significantly. Geological proxy records indicate historically unprecedented levels of intense-hurricane activity impacted the American eastern seaboard in the last two millennia. If similar levels of intense-hurricane activity were to return the results would be truly catastrophic, given the recent increase in coastal populations and infrastructure. Most modeling studies suggest that we may experience more frequent intense hurricanes in the future as the Earth warms, but the historical and geological record indicates a complex relationship between ocean warming and hurricane activity.

About the NewportHistorical Society

Since 1854, the Newport Historical Society has collected and preserved the artifacts, photographs, documents, publications, and genealogical records that relate to the history of Newport County, to make these materials readily available for both research and enjoyment, and to act as a resource center for the education of the public about the history of Newport County, so that knowledge of the past may contribute to a fuller understanding of the present. For more information please visit www.NewportHistory.org.

About the Newport Restoration Foundation

Founded in 1968, the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) is dedicated to promoting and investing in the architectural heritage of the Newport community, the traditional building trades, and Doris Duke’s fine and decorative arts collection, for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of all. NRF also supports research and education in areas that relate directly to its collections and to issue of critical concern to the field of historic preservation.

NRF is on Twitter @NPTRestoration, Facebook /NPTRestoration and Instagram @NPTRestoration. Visit newportrestoration.org for more information.

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