A 900-Year Isotopic Proxy Rainfall Record from Northeastern Botswana

A high-resolution climate archive was reconstructed based on carbon isotope analysis and radiocarbon dating of the Chapman baobab in northeastern Botswana. The baobab, which exhibited an open ring-shaped structure composed six stems, collapsed January 2016 during intense El Niño event. Two samples belonging to oldest stems were investigated order obtain a proxy rainfall record, provides insight into precipitation regime over last millennium, evincing centennial decadal scale variability. results indicate that Medieval Warm Period marked by relatively stable precipitation, whereas variability drought frequency increased Little Ice Age. area has experienced both wetter drier conditions past. wettest millennium registered before 1450 while driest period occurred 1835. For southern Africa, inter-annual is mainly associated with sea surface temperatures Agulhas Current core region, determine east–west displacement tropical temperate troughs. Previous studies suggested positive temperature anomalies Mozambique Channel led eastward movement troughs but record demonstrates westward past, causing South Africa central part Africa. correlation SST reversed after 1900, gradual decrease confirming current aridity trend for contribute better understanding past paleoclimate reconstructions remain scarce.