The Arabian Desert and Green Arabia Hypothesis:
A recent study published in Nature presents evidence of recurring humid periods in the Arabian Desert, currently the largest expanse of dunes on Earth.
Green Arabia Discoveries:
- Speleothems (Stalagmites & Stalactites): Found deep within caves in the Arabian Peninsula, these mineral deposits form only with consistent rainfall, vegetation, and soil.
- Their existence points to multiple “green phases” in the region over the last 8 million years.
- Uranium dating: Used to accurately determine the age of speleothem formations, providing one of the oldest continuous climate records for Arabia.
- Oxygen isotope analysis: Helped estimate past rainfall levels and periods of humidity, confirming that Arabia was not always a desert.
- Archaeological evidence: In the Baynunah Formation (UAE), fossils dating back 7 million years show the presence of: Hippos, Elephants, Giraffes & Primates.
- These fossils indicate that Green Arabia served as a migratory route for animals and hominids.
- Arabian Desert spans around 900,000 square miles, making it the second-largest desert in the world (after the Sahara).
- Located across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen, and Oman, and stretches into Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait.
- Composed of three main deserts:
- Rub’al-Khali– the largest dune desert.
- Ad-Dhana Desert – central corridor.
- An-Nafud Desert – northern zone.
- The region is hyper-arid, with less than 33 mm of annual rainfall.
- Extreme temperature variations: above 50°C during the day, dropping sharply at night.
- Frequent sandstorms, including seasonal Shamals and whirlwinds called Dust Devils, reduce visibility and affect human movement.
