The Arabian Desert and Green Arabia Hypothesis

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.

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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