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posted by janrinok on Saturday December 03 2016, @04:09AM   Printer-friendly
from the less-rain dept.

As little as 6,000 years ago, the vast Sahara Desert was covered in grassland that received plenty of rainfall, but shifts in the world's weather patterns abruptly transformed the vegetated region into some of the driest land on Earth. A Texas A&M university researcher is trying to uncover the clues responsible for this enormous climate transformation – and the findings could lead to better rainfall predictions worldwide.

Robert Korty, associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, along with colleague William Boos of Yale University, have had their work published in the current issue of Nature Geoscience.

The two researchers have looked into precipitation patterns of the Holocene era and compared them with present-day movements of the intertropical convergence zone, a large region of intense tropical rainfall. Using computer models and other data, the researchers found links to rainfall patterns thousands of years ago.

"The framework we developed helps us understand why the heaviest tropical rain belts set up where they do," Korty explains.

"Tropical rain belts are tied to what happens elsewhere in the world through the Hadley circulation, but it won't predict changes elsewhere directly, as the chain of events is very complex. But it is a step toward that goal."


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  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday December 03 2016, @10:43AM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday December 03 2016, @10:43AM (#436487) Journal

    Yes, you're paranoid. And, yes, we are all out to get you. I don't know anything about those fucking fluffies you're talking about. Someone around here probably killed them and ate them. If you want support, there's a group that meets here alongside AA and NA after we all go home. Paranoids Anonymous, I think they call themselves. Watch out for Big Ben though - he'll hit on you, and hates to hear the word "no". 'Course, you may like Ben.

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  • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Saturday December 03 2016, @03:22PM

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Saturday December 03 2016, @03:22PM (#436534) Journal

    Are "fluffies" a naughtier version of "furries?"

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.
    • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Saturday December 03 2016, @04:55PM

      by Gaaark (41) on Saturday December 03 2016, @04:55PM (#436554) Journal

      You're thinking of 'fluffer', lol.

      --
      --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
    • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday December 03 2016, @07:55PM

      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday December 03 2016, @07:55PM (#436606) Journal

      I'm not real sure, but I think the fluffies and bronies are related. I'm not part of the culture, so I get confused.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 03 2016, @04:25PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 03 2016, @04:25PM (#436546)

    Do you ever get tired of being an asshole? Don't worry, rhetorical question.

    • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Saturday December 03 2016, @08:00PM

      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Saturday December 03 2016, @08:00PM (#436609) Journal

      From what I've seen of him, no, no he doesn't. And unlike any sane human being, who would stop and think "y'know if perfect strangers are calling me an asshole maybe I should reflect on my behavior," he'll simply take it as validation.

      Rebels-without-a-clue aren't funny or endearing after age 14 or so :/

      --
      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...