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.

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.

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.

Source: SCN