Ancient stalagmites reveal exceptions to Asia-South America monsoon seesaw over the past 450,000 years
A new study published in Nature analyzes stalagmites from a Peruvian cave to understand historical monsoon patterns. The research reveals that the long-standing 'seesaw' relationship between Asian and South American monsoons has experienced exceptions over the last 450,000 years.
Why it matters
Understanding these climate anomalies helps scientists better predict future drought risks and monsoon behavior, which are critical for global agriculture and water security.
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add to Preferred Sources Location of caves where speleothems were recovered. Credit: Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-11166-3 In places like South Asia, Africa and parts of the Americas, monsoon rains supply water for drinking, crops and hydropower for billions of people. Understanding the patterns that monsoons tend to follow can help people plan for drought risks affecting agriculture, reservoirs and hydropower across distant regions.
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