Researchers have used tree rings to track rainfall patterns on the Tibetan Plateau over the course of almost 3,500 years and found a link between major changes and the downfall of some of the most powerful Chinese imperial dynasties.
A study found that long-term falls in precipitation following an extended humid period coincided with some of China’s most dramatic political upheavals.
The researchers from the Institute of Earth Environment at the Chinese Academy of Sciences also found that the past 100 years had been among the driest.
The Qilian juniper has a lifespan of up to 2,500 years and can remain preserved in the mountainous region long after its death.
This lifespan and its sensitivity to moisture make it ideal for reconstructing the climatic conditions on the plateau over a long period.