A ca. 39,000-year record of vegetation and climate change from the margin of the Namib Sand Sea

A 39,000-year record from the Namib Sand Sea reveals that glacial-age climates were significantly more humid and cooler than today's arid conditions, supporting mesic shrubby vegetation. This study, using rock hyrax middens to analyze stable isotopes, pollen, and microcharcoal, shows that wetter periods promoted denser karroid vegetation with less fire risk, while drier conditions favored xeric grasslands prone to more extensive fires. Contrary to previous hypotheses, no evidence was found for the expansion of Cape flora during the last glacial period.

Chase, B. M., Boom, A., Carr, A. S., Meadows, M. E., & Lim, S. (2023). A ca. 39,000-year record of vegetation and climate change from the margin of the Namib Sand Sea. Quaternary Research, 116, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2023.29