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Titel |
Climate change and the demise of Minoan civilization |
VerfasserIn |
A. A. Tsonis , K. L. Swanson, G. Sugihara, P. A. Tsonis |
Medientyp |
Artikel
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Sprache |
Englisch
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ISSN |
1814-9324
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Digitales Dokument |
URL |
Erschienen |
In: Climate of the Past ; 6, no. 4 ; Nr. 6, no. 4 (2010-08-24), S.525-530 |
Datensatznummer |
250003659
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Publikation (Nr.) |
copernicus.org/cp-6-525-2010.pdf |
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Zusammenfassung |
Climate change has been implicated
in the success and downfall of several ancient civilizations. Here we
present a synthesis of historical, climatic, and geological evidence that
supports the hypothesis that climate change may have been responsible for
the slow demise of Minoan civilization. Using proxy ENSO and precipitation
reconstruction data in the period 1650–1980 we present empirical and
quantitative evidence that El Nino causes drier conditions in the area of
Crete. This result is supported by modern data analysis as well as by model
simulations. Though not very strong, the ENSO-Mediterranean drying signal
appears to be robust, and its overall effect was accentuated by a series of
unusually strong and long-lasting El Nino events during the time of the
Minoan decline. Indeed, a change in the dynamics of the El
Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) system occurred around 3000 BC, which
culminated in a series of strong and frequent El Nino events
starting at about 1450 BC and lasting for several centuries. This stressful
climatic trend, associated with the gradual demise of the Minoans, is argued
to be an important force acting in the downfall of this classic and
long-lived civilization. |
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