クラシック・マヤ文明の崩壊は,降雨量の控えめな減少に関連していた

Martín Medina-Elizalde¹, Eelco J Rohling

¹National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|February 25, 2012

まとめ

クラシック・マヤ文明は深刻な干ばつを経験し,降雨量が最大40%減少し,その崩壊に貢献しました. この気候現象は,おそらくこの地域の熱帯嵐の活動を減少させた.

科学分野:

古代気候学 (paleoclimatology) とは,古代気候学 (paleoclimatology) とは,古代気候学 (paleoclimatology) とは,古代気候学 (paleoclimatology) とは,古代気候学 (paleoclimatology) とは
考古学考古学とは
環境科学環境科学

背景:

ユカタン半島と中米の古典的なマヤ文明は,200年以上にわたって大きな崩壊を経験しました.
この崩壊は,広範囲にわたる干ばつと一致しましたが,その正確な性質と深刻さはよく理解されていません.

研究の目的:

マヤ文明の崩壊時の干ばつを理解するために,古気候記録を定量的に分析する.
マヤに影響を与えた気候現象の一貫した解釈を提供すること.

主な方法:

4つの詳細な古気候記録の定量分析.
マヤ文明の崩壊に関連した気候データの解釈.

主要な成果:

マヤの崩壊時の干ばつにより,年間降水量は40%まで減少した.
これらの深刻な干ばつが,夏の熱帯嵐の頻度と強さの減少と関連している可能性が高い.

結論:

この研究は,クラシック・マヤの崩壊に寄与した深刻な干ばつについての定量的な理解を提供します.
熱帯嵐の活動が減ったことが,この期間の降雨不足の原因であると見なされている.

さらに関連する動画

08:09

Measuring and Mapping Patterns of Soil Erosion and Deposition Related to Soil Carbonate Concentrations Under Agricultural Management

Published on: September 12, 2017

関連する概念動画

01:50

Global Climate Change

Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.

01:16

What is Climate?

Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over an extended period. As the saying goes, “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.” Climate is influenced by geographic factors, such as latitude, terrain, and proximity to bodies of water.

01:57

Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.

02:41

Responses to Drought and Flooding

Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.

01:50

Threats to Biodiversity

There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...

01:13

Mortar Joint Deterioration in Masonry

Mortar joint deterioration is a significant concern in masonry structures, with water accumulation in the joints leading to damage from freeze-thaw cycles. The repeated expansion of water during freezing and its melting during thawing develop and propagate cracks in the masonry joints. Eventually, this leads to the spalling of mortar from the joints, loosening masonry units and weakening the structure. The deteriorated mortar joints are also vulnerable to moisture intrusion into the walls.
The...

関連する実験動画