Canada's Magdalen Islands' peatlands hold vital clues about ancient Atlantic hurricanes
Phys.org
February 24, 2026
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The Magdalen Islands' peatlands have revealed crucial insights into ancient hurricane activity, challenging the notion that intense storms are a recent occurrence. By examining layers of peat, researchers from Concordia University discovered evidence of 16 major storm events over the past 3,000 years, including a particularly powerful storm around 300 AD. This finding highlights that eastern Canada has experienced periods of heightened hurricane activity long before modern records began.
Peatlands serve as natural record-keepers, preserving environmental data within their layers. By extracting and analyzing cores from these peat deposits, scientists can identify telltale signs of past storms, such as sand deposits
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Originally published on Phys.org on 2/24/2026