The Arabian Desert and Green Arabia Hypothesis Latest News
A recent study published in Nature presents evidence of recurring humid periods in the Arabian Desert, currently the largest expanse of dunes on Earth.
Geography of the 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 (Empty Quarter) – the largest dune desert.
- Ad-Dhana Desert – central corridor.
- An-Nafud Desert – northern zone.
Climatic Features
- 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.
Flora and Fauna
- Plant life is scarce but includes Date palms, adenium (desert rose), acacia, ghaf trees, salt-bush, and juniper.
- Animal species:
- Large mammals like the Arabian oryx, camels, and gazelles.
- Predators like striped hyenas, Arabian wolves, and caracals (now rare).
- Reptiles like dhub lizards, horned vipers, and cobras.
- Birds like falcons, vultures, and doves.
- Insects including scarab beetles, ants, and wasps.
Green Arabia Key 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.
Source: SCN
The Arabian Desert and Green Arabia Hypothesis FAQs
Q1: What is the Green Arabia Hypothesis?
Ans: The Green Arabia Hypothesis proposes that the Arabian Peninsula experienced periodic wet phases, supporting human migration and biodiversity.
Q2: What evidence supports the Green Arabia theory?
Ans: Fossilised lakes, river channels, and ancient stone tools discovered in Saudi Arabia and the UAE support the hypothesis.
Q3: How is the Arabian Desert relevant to human evolution?
Ans: It is believed to have served as a corridor for early human migration out of Africa into Eurasia.
