Geophysical Monograph Series Including IUGG Volumes Maurice Ewing Volumes Mineral Physics Volumes Geophysical Monograph Series 163 Remote Sensing of Northern Hydrology: Measuring 181 Midlatitude Ionospheric Dynamics and Disturbances Environmental Change Claude R. Duguay and Alain Paul M. Kintner, Jr., Anthea J. Coster, Tim Fuller-Rowell, Pietroniro (Eds.) Anthony J. Mannucci, Michael Mendillo, and 164 Archean Geodynamics and Environments Keith Benn, Roderick Heelis (Eds.) Jean-Claude Mareschal, and Kent C. Condie (Eds.) 182 The Stromboli Volcano: An Integrated Study of 165 Solar Eruptions and Energetic Particles the 2002–2003 Eruption Sonia Calvari, Salvatore Natchimuthukonar Gopalswamy, Richard Mewaldt, Inguaggiato, Giuseppe Puglisi, Maurizio Ripepe, and Jarmo Torsti (Eds.) and Mauro Rosi (Eds.) 166 Back-Arc Spreading Systems: Geological, Biological, 183 Carbon Sequestration and Its Role in the Global Chemical, and Physical Interactions David M. Christie, Carbon Cycle Brian J. McPherson and Charles Fisher, Sang-Mook Lee, and Sharon Givens (Eds.) Eric T. Sundquist (Eds.) 167 Recurrent Magnetic Storms: Corotating Solar 184 Carbon Cycling in Northern Peatlands Andrew J. Baird, Wind Streams Bruce Tsurutani, Robert McPherron, Lisa R. Belyea, Xavier Comas, A. S. Reeve, and Walter Gonzalez, Gang Lu, José H. A. Sobral, and Lee D. Slater (Eds.) Natchimuthukonar Gopalswamy (Eds.) 185 Indian Ocean Biogeochemical Processes and 168 Earth’s Deep Water Cycle Steven D. Jacobsen and Ecological Variability Jerry D. Wiggert, Suzan van der Lee (Eds.) Raleigh R. Hood, S. Wajih A. Naqvi, Kenneth H. Brink, 169 Magnetospheric ULF Waves: Synthesis and and Sharon L. Smith (Eds.) New Directions Kazue Takahashi, Peter J. Chi, 186 Amazonia and Global Change Michael Keller, Richard E. Denton, and Robert L. Lysal (Eds.) 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Andreas Schmittner, John C. H. Chiang, and 191 Rainfall: State of the Science Firat Y. Testik Sidney R. Hemming (Eds.) and Mekonnen Gebremichael (Eds.) 174 Post-Perovskite: The Last Mantle Phase Transition 192 Antarctic Subglacial Aquatic Environments Kei Hirose, John Brodholt, Thorne Lay, and David Yuen Martin J. Siegert, Mahlon C. Kennicut II, (Eds.) and Robert A. Bindschadler 175 A Continental Plate Boundary: Tectonics at 193 Abrupt Climate Change: Mechanisms, Patterns, South Island, New Zealand and Impacts Harunur Rashid, Leonid Polyak, David Okaya, Tim Stem, and Fred Davey (Eds.) and Ellen Mosley-Thompson (Eds.) 176 Exploring Venus as a Terrestrial Planet Larry W. Esposito, 194 Stream Restoration in Dynamic Fluvial Systems: Ellen R. Stofan, and Thomas E. Cravens (Eds.) Scientific Approaches, Analyses, and Tools 177 Ocean Modeling in an Eddying Regime Andrew Simon, Sean J. Bennett, and Janine M. Castro Matthew Hecht and Hiroyasu Hasumi (Eds.) 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Geophysical Monograph 198 Climates, Landscapes, and Civilizations Liviu Giosan Dorian Q. Fuller Kathleen Nicoll Rowan K. Flad Peter D. Clift Editors American Geophysical Union Washington, DC Published under the aegis of the AGU Books Board Kenneth R. Minschwaner, Chair; Gray E. Bebout, Kenneth H. Brink, Jiasong Fang, Ralf R. Haese, Yonggang Liu, W. Berry Lyons, Laurent Montési, Nancy N. Rabalais, Todd C. Rasmussen, A. Surjalal Sharma, David E. Siskind, Rigobert Tibi, and Peter E. van Keken, members. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Climates, landscapes, and civilizations / Liviu Giosan...[et. al.], editors. p. cm. – (Geophysical monograph ; v. 198) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-87590-488-7 (alk. paper) 1. Cultural landscapes. 2. Landscape changes. 3. Climatic changes. 4. Human beings–Effect of climate on. 5. Civilization, Ancient. I. Giosan, Liviu. GF41.C54 2012 304.2–dc23 2012040662 ISBN: 978-0-87590-488-7 ISSN: 0065-8448 Cover Image: (top left) The Sun is the principal natural driver of Earthʼs climate (http://commons.wikimedia.org). The water cycle translates climate signals into diverse landscapes ranging from (top right) highly productive floodplains (http://commons.wikimedia.org) to (bottom left) completely inhospitable deserts (http://commons.wikimedia.org). In the process of becoming a geological-scale force, humans have conquered even the most hazardous landscapes and devised strategies for survival and rapid recovery. (bottom left) Reconstructed pre-Columbian house structures built in El Baga National Park, Cayo Coco, Cuba. Photograph credit: Jago Cooper. Copyright 2012 by the American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20009 Figures, tables and short excerpts may be reprinted in scientific books and journals if the source is properly cited. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by the American Geophysical Union for libraries and other users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC). This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying, such as copying for creating new collective works or for resale.The reproduction of multiple copies and the use of full articles or the use of extracts, including figures and tables, for commercial purposes requires permission from the American Geophysical Union. Geopress is an imprint of the American Geophysical Union. Printed in the United States of America. CONTENTS Preface Liviu Giosan, Dorian Q. Fuller, Kathleen Nicoll, Rowan K. Flad, and Peter D. Clift ...............................................vii Bridging a Disciplinary Gap William F. Ruddiman ..............................................................................................................................................1 Section I: Americas Arguments and Evidence Against a Younger Dryas Impact Event M. Boslough, K. Nicoll, V. Holliday, T. L. Daulton, D. Meltzer, N. Pinter, A. C. Scott, T. Surovell, P. Claeys, J. Gill, F. Paquay, J. Marlon, P. Bartlein, C. Whitlock, D. Grayson, and A. J. T. Jull ................................................13 Environment and Agency in the Ancient Maya Collapse James J. Aimers .....................................................................................................................................................27 Rainfall Variability and the Rise and Collapse of the Mississippian Chiefdoms: Evidence From a DeSoto Caverns Stalagmite Paul Aharon, David Aldridge, and John Hellstrom ................................................................................................35 Building Resilience in Island Communities: A Paleotempestological Perspective Jago Cooper .........................................................................................................................................................43 Recent Seasonal Variations in Arid Landscape Cover and Aeolian Sand Mobility, Navajo Nation, Southwestern United States Amy E. Draut, Margaret Hiza Redsteer, and Lee Amoroso ....................................................................................51 Section II: Asia Utilization of Distal Tephra Records for Understanding Climatic and Environmental Consequences of the Youngest Toba Tuff Emma Gatti and Clive Oppenheimer ....................................................................................................................63 An Abrupt Shift in the Indian Monsoon 4000 Years Ago M. Berkelhammer, A. Sinha, L. Stott, H. Cheng, F. S. R. Pausata, and K. Yoshimura ..............................................75 Late Holocene Drought Pattern Over West Asia Michael Staubwasser ............................................................................................................................................89 Geomorphological Constraints on the Ghaggar