isotopes

Madagascar Baobab Trees Reveal 700 Years of Climate History Through Ring Isotopes

Scientists have discovered that baobab trees in Madagascar store over 700 years of rainfall data in their rings through carbon isotope analysis. The research reveals the most precipitation occurred from 1350-1450, followed by an extremely dry period from 1600-1750, with precipitation declining steadily since. The study demonstrates that vegetation changes resulted from both climate and human activities like slash-and-burn agriculture, challenging previous theories that blamed humans alone for deforestation.