All articles tagged with #stalagmites
Scientists analyzing stalagmites from caves south of the Atlas Mountains in southern Morocco find rainfall persisted from 8,700 to 4,300 years ago, signaling a greener Sahara; uranium-thorium dating and oxygen isotope analysis tie the wetter period to tropical moisture plumes, and archaeological records show Neolithic communities expanding there as grazing lands widened.
Scientists have discovered that stalagmites follow a single mathematical rule based on water drip rate and calcite deposition, which can help improve understanding of past climate conditions by analyzing their layered structures.
Chemical analysis of stalagmites from a Mexican cave revealed that during the Maya collapse (871-1021 CE), there were eight droughts lasting over three years, with the longest lasting 13 years, likely contributing to societal decline. This detailed climate data aligns with archaeological evidence of halted monument construction and societal upheaval, providing new insights into the role of climate stress in the Maya civilization's decline.