NASA | Ancient Dry Spells Offer Clues About the Future of Drought

The video explores how deforestation by the Aztec and Mayan civilizations may have exacerbated droughts, contributing to their decline. As European settlers arrived, indigenous populations decreased, allowing forests to regrow and resulting in a wetter climate. Scientists suggest that the conversion of farmland to forest altered sunlight reflectance, affecting local climate. Climate records from cave formations support these findings, showing reduced rainfall during the Maya collapse. Today, similar deforestation could lead to prolonged droughts in Central America.

What evidence do scientists have regarding rainfall levels during the time of the Maya collapse?

In what ways could current deforestation in Central America affect future climate conditions?