New climate record shows century-long droughts in eastern North America

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The stalagmite which is 7.9 inches long was collected from a site in Buckeye Creek Cave West Virginia. It is 7000-years-old. Image: Gregory Springer Ohio University
The stalagmite, which is 7.9 inches long, was collected from a site in Buckeye Creek Cave, West Virginia. It is 7,000-years-old. Image: Gregory Springer, Ohio University

A stalagmite in a West Virginia cave has yielded the most detailed geological record to date on climate cycles in eastern North America over the past 7,000 years. The new study confirms that during periods when Earth received less solar radiation, the Atlantic Ocean cooled, icebergs increased and precipitation fell, creating a series of century-long droughts.


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All News summaries for August 19, 2008

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