Tree-ring patterns to unravel storminess archives on the western coast of Cotentin, Normandy, France

Coastal areas of the north-eastAtlantic region are hit by storms mostly during the wintertime. Storms have an impact on coastal communities and economic activities. In western Cotentin, in Normandy, France, settlements are at threat due to heavy dune erosion; however, the history of coastal storm is quite well documented but due to coastal retreat and a prompt construction period for the last 5 to 7 decades along the coastline, sedimentary archives of these events have not been preserved. Trees located along the coast, either isolated or as stands, do represent a potential archive. The present study aims at testing the tree-ring reliability potential to document storminess in areas that are lacking any document, over short and long time periods, as tree-ring patterns are deeply affectedby the mechanical impact of low-frequency-high-intensity winds.